Volunteers from Grace Baptist Church gave their time Saturday to help the family of a recently deceased WW2 veteran by providing help with yard work and cleaning at their home in Canyon Country.

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Ann Cinquina’s late husband, Joseph Cinquina, served for 5 years and fought in the Pacific Theater during WW2, ending his military career as Staff Sergeant in the US infantry. He died at 92. 

“These people came straight from heaven,”Ann Cinquina said. “I just didn’t expect it. When my husband passed away, things became very difficult and then i became disabled. When my husband passed away, that was one income gone and my daughter and I tried to struggle to hang on to this house.”

RJ Kelly, founder and president of the Veterans Advocacy Network, said his organization suggested the Cinquina family when he learned about Grace Baptist’s plans.

“[The Cinquina’s] are a great, christian family,” Kelly said. “They are Italians, so they give from the heart all the time, no matter how much they have or don’t have. When [Carl Goldman, co-owner of KHTS] called and asked if we had somebody in need, we looked around and I said, ‘I have somebody who’s in real need, but the husband just passed away,’ and the church just jumped on it.”

Steve Kilker, Local Outreach Coordinator for Grace Baptist Church, said his congregation strives to be a positive force in the community.

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“Our Senior Pastor, David Hegg, knows that our congregation has a real heart for folks that served our country and have given their lives and time to keep us safe,” Kilker said. “I come from a faith community that really wants to live out our faith in practical ways for Christ, so we want to be good neighbors. We come across someone with a need and, if were able to, we fill that need.”

Saturday’s volunteers worked inside and outside the Cinquina home. The inside crew did a deep cleaning of the house, replaced bathroom fixtures and painted, while the outside group was tasked with trimming the overgrown plants and hauling away debris.

Ann Cinquina’s daughter, Joanne Cinquina, also lives at the Canyon Country home, helping her mother with housework, cooking and growing food in their garden.

“We haven’t done this yard work in years,” Joanne Cinquina said. “It’s just amazing that these people [from Grace Baptist] are so kind and so patient and so loving. “its more than you can even imagine. I’m just grateful to God that these people came into our lives.”

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