OCEANSIDE, Calif. (KGTV) - A homeless woman helped by her Oceanside neighbors is now giving back, stitch by stitch.
Inside a Motel 6, Sheryl Huckeba is putting the finishing touches on a blanket, wrapped in hope.
"The community helping me out so much, what little I have I wanted to give back to them," said Huckeba.
Huckeba's ordeal began in 2018, with a diagnosis of uterine cancer, followed by several ministrokes.
"Being in and out of the hospital, and not being able to work, I lost my house because of it," said Huckeba.
She lost her apartment in September. The van she was living in broke down, so she couldn't make her medical appointments. She reached out to the Facebook group 'Oceanside Homeless Resource' and received more than she had dreamed of.
"I can't even explain in words how touching it is," said Huckeba.
First came donations of food and grocery gift cards. One family paid for repairs to her van's transmission, then donated a Toyota Highlander, so her grown children could get to work.
"It's like I have angels on my head as I walk around," said Huckeba.
As Huckeba battled the cancer, she started to sew pillows and blankets for the homeless. Using donated fabrics, she's already made and handed out some 60 blankets.
"Seeing smiles on their faces and knowing I can give them something to keep them warm. It's an amazing feeling. I know the struggle. I know how it is. If I can help someone in that situation, I'll do it," said Huckeba, choking back tears.
Her own struggle in fact is not over. Her treatments continue. She is on a wait list for permanent housing. Through it all, she continue to sew. She'll gather 20 pillows and 50 blankets to be given out at a breakfast for the homeless Saturday.
"I was given a lot of love and hope, and I want to give back some of that love and hope," said Huckeba.
If you'd like to donate fabric to Sheryl's Hope Blanket Project, contact the Oceanside Homeless Resource Facebook group.
