Local Volunteers Help Widow While Supporting Adoption Journey

On June 27, the Rodden family will host a community volunteer workday in Cobb County, through the nonprofit Both Hands ministry. Nicole and Robert Rodden, alongside a team of local volunteers, will complete repairs and improvements at the home of widow Rena Karpf, whose husband passed away in March 2023 after 26 years of marriage.

The project will include rebuilding a deteriorated deck, painting, landscaping, and other home repairs and maintenance that have become difficult to manage alone. The volunteer effort is intended not only to serve a local widow, but also to help offset costs associated with the Rodden family’s recent adoption journey.

On August 15, 2025, Melina was born, and Nicole and Robert were present at the hospital from the very beginning. The Roddens describe her adoption as the greatest blessing of their lives and say the Both Hands project gave them an opportunity to celebrate that blessing by serving someone else in need.

“Both Hands gave us a meaningful way to support a widow while also sharing our adoption story with friends, family, and the community,” said Robert Rodden. “We’re excited to bring people together to help Rena in a very practical way.”

Both Hands is a national nonprofit organization whose mission is “to serve orphans, widows, and adoptive families.” Families organize volunteer service projects for widows while supporters sponsor the effort similarly to a charity walk or fundraiser. Unlike many nonprofit fundraising models, Both Hands covers its administrative costs through separate donors, allowing project sponsorships to directly support adoptions and orphan care.

Since 2008, Both Hands projects have raised more than $25.5 million for adoptions and orphan care. More than 1,800 widows have been served across 46 states.

Community members and businesses interested in donating supplies, volunteering, or supporting the project can learn more at:
https://bothhands.org/project/rodden-1417/