SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Audrey Crenshaw is not your typical grandmother. Shortly after she beat cancer, she became the sole provider for her seven grandchildren.
"I got guardianship of three, adopted two, and then the last two my daughter had...so there's 7," she told ABC10 on Saturday.
Her grandchildren range from age from three to 16 years old, and are with her for various reasons.
On Saturday morning, the Sacramento Police Department and the Sacramento Rotary Club teamed up to offer a "Day of Service" for Audrey's home. Volunteers spent several hours making repairs around her home.
"I didn't expect all this. It's just wonderful," Creshaw said. "I could have never did this on my own."
On raising seven kids simultaneously, Crenshaw said, "We all pull together."
"I have a lot of people who I can call at the drop of a dime and say 'I'm too tired, I need an adult here' and they'll run over at the drop of a dime and watch the kids for me." she said.
Now that Crenshaw has overcome her fair share of challenges, she said she would like to inspire others.
"Don't give up. The main thing is to keep your core value. If you're happy, you have to hang on to it," she said. "From the moment they tell you the devastating news, it's so easy to get lost in it. I got seven kids so I never gave up hope...so don't give up hope."
WATCH MORE FROM ABC10: SMUD's Time-of-Day Rates: When are they and what do they mean?
As SMUD moves into the summer season, customers may see more expensive power bills if they use electricity during peak, mid-peak, or off-peak hours.