"Hope With a Hammer" to Finish Ryder's New Home This Month

The final phase of construction is underway for Ryder Johnson’s new home, a custom-built house designed to meet the needs of the five-year-old boy living with an ultra-rare genetic disorder known as Xq23 Deletion. The project, led by the nonprofit faith-based group Hope With A Hammer, has drawn continued support from local volunteers, churches, and donors since work first began last year.

Ryder Johnson

Now, with the house nearly complete, organizers are aiming for a move-in date of July 18, while calling on the community one more time to help furnish the space and ease the family's transition into their long-awaited home.

Hope With A Hammer director Peter Boros returned to the Campbellsburg site on Monday, July 7, where he and a small team began tackling painting projects and finishing pouring the concrete for the spacious front porch — a key feature for Ryder, who enjoys being outside but must be protected from extreme temperatures due to his condition.

This Friday, July 11, a larger crew will join Boros to continue interior work and tackle the final to-do list needed to prepare the house for occupancy. If all goes according to plan, the Johnson family will be able to move in the following week.

While construction materials have been largely donated or purchased with existing funds, some additional funds are still needed to fill the house with essentials, including furniture and appliances. Supporters can give directly at www.hopewithahammer.org/current-projects, or contribute items through an Amazon registry created specifically for the Johnson family.

The house, located on Saltillo-Bono Road, replaces a decades-old single-wide trailer where Ryder currently lives with his parents, brother, and grandmother. The new space offers more room, better insulation, clean city water, and reliable temperature control — all of which are crucial for Ryder’s health and development.

The Johnsons' current home.

Hope With A Hammer operates with a strong faith-driven mission, believing in demonstrating the love of God through service. “We don’t care if they’re Christians or not,” Boros explained. “Our actions show that Jesus is real. And we don’t take any overhead out of the money that’s donated. If someone donates $100, it’s going to buy $100 worth of materials. It’s a huge body-of-Christ thing, and when the house is built, the family will always know that Jesus didn’t forget about them.”

For those in the community wishing to lend a hand, volunteers are still welcome on site from Monday, July 7th to Friday, July 18.

"We just want to thank the community and everybody for sharing, and for the love and support we have received," said Ryder's mother Chelsea. "We can't wait for it to be finished so Ryder can thrive in his new home."