Church Collaboration Restores Member's Kitchen in Cheney

By Isaac Meythaler,

UCC Communications Coordinator

In December 2023 Melanee Waite came home to a flooded kitchen due to frozen pipes. She reached out to her insurance company and had repairs completed by a local company. While the frozen pipes were repaired, the job was still largely unfinished; including a big hole in the kitchen wall, a floor patched with plywood and the kitchen counter and sink sitting on the back porch.

Waite’s husband had recently suffered a stroke and was newly placed in convalescent care. Legally blind and a senior citizen, Waites did not have the resources, energy or ability to finish the repairs. She resigned herself to having a non-functioning kitchen.

In the Spring of 2024, a church friend, Rob Peterson, stopped by to visit with Waite. He was appalled with the condition of the kitchen and asked if he could help. Over the course of several months, He made numerous phone calls to her insurance company and the repair company to no avail. Neither were willing to do anything further to complete the work. Determined, Peterson decided to find another way to make the necessary repairs.

“I never expected to have a functioning kitchen,” said Waite. “I was just resigned to live with the makeshift mess. I am so blessed to have a church family that cares so much.”

After finding a good bid for flooring, Peterson brought a proposal to the Cheney Church Board, which approved the project and after a few months proceeded to raise nearly $4,000 to replace Waite’s kitchen floor. With board approval and funds raised, the flooring was purchased in early 2026, and a team got to work.

But the floor wasn’t the only problem, the kitchen counter and sink that was left outside was beyond repair, and a kitchen cabinet was heavily damaged. For additional help, Peterson reached out to Shine 104.9 Chaplain Tyler Kern. Kern connected Peterson with Jason Lennon, Spokane Linwood Church member and leader of Beyond the Walls, a church ministry to help people in need with home repair projects.

Beyond the Walls came out to assess the project and agreed to take it on. They were able to salvage a cabinet which had been sitting out in the elements for almost two years. Lennon and Paul Wilcox set aside an entire day to rebuild and restore the weather-worn cabinet. Ian Nesteruk spent several evenings replacing the kitchen’s missing and damaged drywall, including sanding and texturing. Peterson and Wilcox painted the wall. A new countertop was purchased with funds personally donated by one of the volunteers. Nesteruk worked on the finishing touches including plumbing the kitchen sink, hooking up the dishwasher and sealing everything in place. The project was completed on March 16, 2026.

“It is amazing how God works in bringing people together in times of need,” said Peterson. “It took some time, but God and His people came through along every step of the way. A big thank you goes out to all who helped with the project.”