Sponsored by the Southbury Interfaith Social Concerns Commitee
For the last seven years, the Southbury Interfaith Social Concerns Committee has sponsored a project for AmeriCares HomeFront. The purpose of these projects is to make a local home warm, safe and dry. All the work is done in one day, so having many people available makes it easier to accomplish great things. This year, May 14 was the day set aside for the work day. A day that dawned overcast, and stayed that way most of the day. And not too hot. All in all, a great day. A great day for helping a neighbor. What follows is a very brief description of the work day. Nothing can completely describe all the activity that went into completing this work, but we offer our thanks to all those who labored so long and hard to make it a reality.
As in past years, the volunteers get together before the work day to get the details about the job. Where, how much, what to do. All the details that go into making the day a success. Our captain, Lauren, did her usual fine job of letting everyone know about what was expected.
Just a couple of the guys, willing to help a neighbor.
Also attending was Bishop Scott Martin from the Southbury Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-Day Saints. He led a large group from his church to the project.
If you feed them they will come. One of the great truths about organizing a meeting. Always have a little snack after the meeting so the volunteers can get to know each other, and ask any questions they have about the project.
This is the home that we were privileged to work on this year. Located in Seymour, it is owned by a wonderful lady, and just needed a little TLC to restore it to a warm, safe, and dry condition. And who better to do that than all those wonderful volunteers.
Like anything else in life, there are a few things to work out before you can start to work. Like registration. We always like to know who is here, so they can be thanked.
But before setting out, it's always a good idea to check the job list. Lots of choices.
Rev. Glen Rainsley from the South Britain Congregational Church was there to lead the group in prayer. These projects always start with a prayer, both of thanksgiving for the opportunity to help a neighbor, and for the strength needed to complete the work ahead.
One of the major projects for the day was to take down the garage in the back. But the garage didn't want to be taken down. After lots of pulling and pounding, the garage was still standing. So this truck was brought in, with a chain to finish the job. But of course, there was another problem. There was supposed to be a dumpster at the site to carry away all the trash. But this morning, no dumpster. And that means no place to put the remains of the garage after it comes down. And no place to put anything else either. A major worry.
Take that, you evil garage. The garage did finally lose the battle, but it was an epic struggle. Nothing is ever as easy as it seems it should be.
Nothing like a few flowers to brighten up any home. And these will go a long way to do just that.
Before any paint can be applied, you have to remove all the old paint, chips, etc. These young folk are doing just that, in the front of the house.
One of the inside projects involved replacing the ceiling in the living room. Another case of things not being as easy as it was first thought. Here we see the lath being replaced in the ceiling before the new sheetrock can be put up.
And not all the jobs involved a lot of people. Down in the basement, working alone, this gentleman replaced the bottom of the basement steps. Sorry, just no room for anyone else to get in to this tight space. But by the end of the day, all new steps were ready to go.
The back yard had become quite overgrown. Behind the former garage, this group was hard at work clearing the slope of all the accumulated weeds.
If flowers in the front are good, then more flowers around the side must be event better.
The nice thing about any plumbing job is that there are people ready and willing to take them on. Most plumbing repairs turn out to be much more than planned, and this is no exception. Lucky we have the right people for the job.
Oh, my. Look at the size of that ladder. Just don't look down.
A little more light will help brighten the home. So some of the tree limbs have to go.
Inside, once the preparation is finished, it must be time to apply the paint. It always helps to have a couple of people doing this. Makes the work go so much faster.
Looks like things are in full swing here. Volunteers everywhere. And this doesn't show the ones inside, and in the back.
You may have seen these folks on the food channel...very late at night. The Knights of Columbus are always ready to provide lunch for the workers, as they have since the Interfaith group first sponsored the event.
Ah, nothing like some hot chow after a hard morning of work. Please help yourself. There is plenty for all. Thanks to the Knights for their generous help every year.
Remember the living room ceiling being repaired. Looks like that job is just about finished. Just a few more fine touches, and it will be time for the paint.
After lunch, there was a short break to give everyone time to catch their breath, and then back to work. Fix up the yard so the new plants will really look good.
At Last. The dumpster arrived late in the afternoon, and everyone was diverted from whatever they were doing to put the trash in the box. In fact, they were so quick, that the dumpster was soon full, and still more stuff to go. So the full dumpster was hauled away, to be replaced with an empty one.
And the new one was soon full too. But there is always room for one more thing. Good thing there are three volunteers here. I don't see this as a one man job.
And so the job is finished for this year. The home looks 100% better. Nothing like a little paint, elbow greese, plumbing, landscaping...All to help a neighbor.
Our favorite captain, the lady who does so much of the organizing, preliminary work, and keeps things running during the day. Thanks to Lauren, and her husband Mike for all they do.
Special tip o' the hat to Hank Rapp of St. James Lutheran Church who provided many of the shots you see here.
If you would like additional information on either AmeriCares or AmeriCares HomeFront, click here.