Kind at Heart Ministries celebrated the completion of an apartment for Vivian Stockton with an open house and ribbon cutting on Saturday.

More than 120 people attended the event, which included live music and a catered meal donated by Rib Crib. The apartment, attached to Stockton's original home, was also opened for tours.

The building project was started by the late Louie Thomas, who died after a battle with cancer in December. His wife Mary Thomas, who helped celebrate the completion of the project, said her husband worked on the building project throughout his illness, going over blueprints in his hospital bed and even from hospice care.

Stockton moved from her home in Siloam Springs a few years ago to help care for an ailing friend, according to Pastor Wayne Thomas, director of Kind at Heart Ministry (no relation to Louie and Mary Thomas). While she was away, Stockton's foster daughter and granddaughter moved into the home. When Stockton's friend died, it became clear there was no room for her to move back into her original house and the thought of asking her foster daughter to move out never crossed her mind, Wayne Thomas said.

The Brotherhood Mission Project of First Baptist Church along with a group from First Presbyterian Church decided to help by by building an apartment onto the century old home, Wayne Thomas said. The project was led by Louie Thomas and Don McCutcheon. However, when Louie Thomas died, Kind at Heart Ministry decided to partner with the church groups, La-Z-Boy and Lowe's to complete the building project.

Stockton has spent her life serving others and helping the community, Wayne Thomas said.

"She has always sold so much of her heart to others," he said. "We wanted to celebrate what God has done in her life by making this wish come true."

In addition to completing the apartment, Kind at Heart Ministry remodeled the bathroom and living room in the original house, added piers underneath the house and reinforced the floor. They also added a central heat and air system to the old home.

"We would just like to say thank-you to everybody who helped pull this off for Vivian," said Wayne Thomas. "It was a community project and there were many people who participated to make this happen. We could not have even thought of doing such a project as this if people hadn't come together and participated."

Thomas said there are still some expenses related to the project that need to be paid. Those who would like to contribute can contact Kind at Heart Ministry at 479-373-6281 or visit www.kindatheart.org.