Although it is the primary objective of MSP to help individuals and families become healthy, productive, and self sustaining, we recognize that some people in the community are elderly and/or disabled and just need compassionate Christian care. One of the ways this is addressed is through our Home Repair program. Frequently, older and disabled folks are unable to do their own home repairs and have meager resources with which to pay for even the most basic necessities. Some use walkers or are confined to wheelchairs so that it is difficult for them to even leave their homes.
Our 8/22/09 post recognized groups from Knoxville and Bristol, TN, Caledonia, MI, and Orrville, OH, as well as some local volunteers who came to Morgan-Scott during the first part of the summer. Since then, we have had groups from Dittner, MO, Harrisburg, PA, and Catonsville and Baltimore, MD. Each of these groups improved the quality of life for at least one family in Morgan or Scott County. Three of these groups brought adults with experience in home repairs along with some youth who were willing to work hard.
A group of 10 adults and 11 youth from Colonial Park UCC in Harrisburg, PA worked on the yard of Margie, who was recently widowed. They cleaned her yard, removing a lot of overgrown shrubbery, replaced some boards, repaired gutters, painted the outside of her home, and replaced the outdoor carpet on her front porch. Then they worked on the home of an elderly lady named Ruth, cleaning and repairing her yard, painting the outside of her house and one room on the inside.
A group from St. John’s UCC in Catonsville, MD returned this year and brought friends from the United Evangelical Church in Baltimore. They totaled 15 very able adults and 9 older youth. They built a long and difficult wheelchair ramp for Alberta in Lancing, removed an old and unsafe porch, built a new porch, painted her roof, and cleaned her yard. Alberta’s situation was especially difficult. This is the third group to work on her home. They also built a wheelchair ramp for David, a single gentleman who has had trouble walking since his hip and knee replacement.
Then this industrious group went to work on the home of Clifton and Phyllis who are both disabled, he due to a heart condition and her due to a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. They underpinned their trailer, put steps on their back porch, replaced a front door, removed the bath tub and replaced it with a walk-in shower, and replaced the floor covering in the bathroom, living room and kitchen.
Some of the groups paid for all of the materials used in their work, some paid for part of the materials. One group even left a check to fund a scholarship for a CNA student in our New Light Program. The remaining materials will be paid for by grants or the contributions of other supporters, but nothing can replace the hard work and compassion shown by these wonderful volunteers.
Article by Ella Smith and Ray Boles
Hi there, I just finished reading some of your posts and found you to be quite informative. Thanks.