Habitat for Humanity volunteers, supporters and the public will gather Sunday, Oct. 18, to celebrate the completion of three projects in Greene County’s fourth year of the nationally-acclaimed Helping Hands home repair program.
The first dedication will be at 2 pm at the home of Ellen McElroy, 306 W. Main St, Grand Junction. The second dedication will begin at 3 pm at the home of Patsy McGinnis, 408 S. Olive St in Jefferson, and the third and final dedication starts at 4 pm with Lori Campbell, 702 Pinet Place in Jefferson. After short presentations and tours of the completed work, each will conclude with refreshments prepared by Habitat volunteers.
The stories: Driving through Grand Junction on Main St earlier this year you may have noticed a quaint little house on the west end, just around the curve into town, that was badly in need of a coat of paint and roof repairs. Volunteer trees, dangerously close to the house, had caused damage to the siding and roof line. The homeowner, Ellen McElroy, did all she could to maintain the home with the resources she had available.
Fast forward to today and you see a remarkable transition by Habitat for Humanity volunteers who took McElroy’s house from eye-sore to attractive and efficient once again. The home transitioned from a color Ellen herself said, “had to go” to an attractive grayish-blue. The dangerous roof replacement was completed by professionals with Beger Roofing of Grand Junction, gutters replaced by Custom Gutters of Jefferson and volunteer trees removed by Carman Tree Care, Jefferson.
Patsy McGinnis had problems as well. Her lovely single-story home on South Olive St. in Jefferson had a leaky roof. Patsy had solicited quotes from area roofing contractors, but the cost of replacement was much more than she could afford. Enter Habitat for Humanity. After removing four layers of shingles with the help of two local congregations, McGinnis had her new roof, no leaks and no worries.
While getting to know Lori Campbell, you will quickly notice she is a person able to do a lot with a little. Her modest home on Pinet Place in Jefferson is well-kept and ordained with beautiful landscaping and yard ornaments. It is evident Campbell takes great pride in her home. Again, we find a home owner needing a new roof and a coat of paint but lacking the resources, physical ability and finances to accomplish it.
To help Campbell, Habitat volunteers partnered with John Deere of Paton to replace the roof of her home and garage and paint both also. John Deere committed six to eight employees each work day for a week. Although the weather did not always cooperate, much was completed for Campbell.
As with homes built by Habitat for Humanity, these three homeowners will repay the cost of materials and subcontracted services used in repairing their homes through a 0-percent interest loan. It is this hand-up approach that allows homeowners to maintain pride while helping to assure additional families can be helped in coming years.
Major support for continuing the Helping Hands program comes from the Greene County Community Foundation, the Greene County board of supervisors along with generous donations from service clubs, churches, businesses and individuals across Greene County.
“While elderly, disabled and otherwise disadvantaged homeowners often lack the physical and financial ability to repair and maintain their homes, thanks to the Helping Hands program through Habitat for Humanity, there can be hope once again. It’s time to celebrate the power of hope,” a Habitat spokesperson said. ~submitted by Habitat for Humanity
