The American Dream was firmly in the Ornelas’ grasp and then it all fell apart. For 10 years the family of seven lived in their own home, supported by a hardworking father who earned a decent living installing drywall. But in 2009, Roberto Ornela lost his job, after 20 years with the same company.

He spent several months traveling as far as Maine as a migrant laborer, but they couldn’t pay the bills and they lost their home. Now all seven Ornelas share a cramped trailer in dire need of repair. "The roof is really bad,” daughter Suzanna said. “When it rains the whole place gets wet." The family needs help with windows and doors, too, anything to make the place feel more like home. "It’s hard," Suzanna said. "We used to have our own house."

Sacred Heart is planning a Day of Service for Saturday, Sept. 11, to help The Ornelas and other residents of the Western Trailer Park on Monterey Highway. Skilled volunteers will work with residents to fix dangerously dilapidated homes and make the trailers safer for the low-income families who live in them.

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