Royal Oak Woman Opens Home With Big Hugs: MI Local Hero

ROYAL OAK, MI — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Corinne Murphy who nominated her mother Deborah Sharpe of Royal Oak.

Local hero’s full name

Deborah Sharpe

Local hero’s home state

Michigan

Local hero’s Patch

Royal Oak

How do you know the local hero?

My Mom

What does the local hero do?

Bottle Feeds Kittens Without Moms

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

People call my mother, “Saint Debbie.” Her heart is so warm and kind and definitely made of gold. Debbie volunteers her time with Silver Lake Animal Rescue League by bottle feeding kittens who have lost their mother. She bottle feeds and fosters dozens of kittens each spring and fall. When these babies are young, she must feed them every 2-3 hours - 24/7. This means she wakes up with them throughout the night, every night. When she comes to a family event, she comes with a small crate in hand.

This is just her current adventure. My parents also took in foster children throughout my older childhood years. My mother gave so much love and care to each child (on top of her five natural children - and now three adopted). When someone needed food to eat or a warm place to stay - she opened the home with a big hug and large batches of spaghetti.

Everyone that has the fortune of meeting my mother - Deborah “Debbie” Sharpe is a better person from it.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

Debbie is the most selfless, loving, warm and loyal person ever - earning her the nickname “Saint Debbie.”

Thank you for all you do, Deborah Sharpe!

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Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.