Joshua Tree family found living in plywood box getting a new home

The Joshua Tree family whose children were found living inside a box made of plywood for years now have a new home.

Mona Kirk, 51, and Daniel Panico, 73, were arrested on March 1 on child cruelty charges

The couple has now been released from jail after pleading not guilty. Friends of the family have shown their support for the family since Kirk and Panico arrest. Friends said the parents took good care of their children, they were just met with a series of unfortunate circumstances.

Elizabeth Crabtree, deputy public defender for the San Bernardino County Public Defender’s Office in Joshua Tree said she believes it’s a case of people being arrested for living a life that’s different from the norm.

“I think there is a good argument that they were arrested for being poor,” Crabtree told KESQ & CBS Local 2 last week.

Jackie Klear organized a GoFundMe page earlier this month to help the family. At the time of this writing, over $54,000 has been raised since the page was started. That money will now go toward buying up a long-vacant home in which the family can live in rent-free.

According to the page, volunteers are helping fix up the home, preparing it for the family. Home Depot donated flooring, new cabinets, a sink, faucet, and a countertop. Others have donated brand new couches and a TV.