Korean Vet Gets Home Repairs
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The men bonded during the annual United Way Day Of Caring.
This year was the fifth year for Day Of Caring where volunteers made repairs to homes in the county.
There were 96 homes in Kosciusko County that were improved by 775 volunteers Wednesday. Homes receiving work were in Claypool, Leesburg, Milford, Mentone, North Webster, Pierceton, Silver Lake, Syracuse, Winona Lake and Warsaw.[[In-content Ad]]
Partners for Day Of Caring were Housing Opportunities Of Warsaw, Grace College and Kosciusko Senior Services.
Kemper, owner of Lake City Builders, Warsaw, worked with other volunteers to complete repairs to Alexander's home and garage at 408 S. Third St., Pierceton.
Volunteers from DePuy, Grace College, and Tripp & Associates Insurance, worked alongside Lake City Builders employees to paint concrete steps, side a garage door, and paint the overhead door at Alexander's home.
Alexander, 75, Pierceton, served in the Korean War from 1952-54, and Kemper served in the Marines from 1972-80.
Since Alexander is a Korean War veteran, the volunteers took their efforts a step further and painted a flag on his garage door complete with stars and stripes.
Alexander said he had a stroke three years ago and gets around with a walker. He was happy to have help from the volunteers.
"The paint has been peeling on the garage for a long time and the front steps of my house needed to be repainted," Alexander said.
Kemper said he was glad to volunteer.
"With the economy, these are difficult times in the building industry, and I am glad we were able to help out Richard," Kemper said.
Several other homes in Pierceton received repairs Wednesday.
Volunteers from Lake City Bank and Grace College scraped and painted the exterior of the home of Lorraine Swanson, 536 S. First St., Pierceton.
Swanson, 85, has lived in the home for 42 years and said she was overwhelmed at the work that was done.
"I can't believe the number of volunteers who showed up, and I am thankful for the work they did," Swanson said.
Cameron Plew, Lake City Bank employee, said he was glad to help out.
"We appreciate the bank giving us time off to give back to a worthy cause in the community," Plew said.
Homeowners were required to meet three criteria to receive improvements to their homes. They were selected based on low to moderate income; senior citizens; and being handicapped.
Serenity House residents kept busy Wednesday morning trimming trees at the home of Frances Ross, 1177 Shagbark, Warsaw, in Hickory Estates.
Serenity House managers Hoss Smith and John Davisson oversaw the work.
"It is a great feeling to give back to our community what has been given to us," Smith said.
Smith said the residents plan to visit Ross two to three times a month to continue to assist her with yard work. Ross said she was appreciative of the work.
"It is hard for me to get around and to see all of these men helping me out is great," Ross said.
Volunteers from Grace College and Warsaw Community Church scraped wallpaper and painted a guest room of Michael and Summer Voss, 101 12th St., Winona Lake.
"Our neighbors nominated us to receive the work and we were blessed and surprised," Summer said.
Becky Trad, a sophomore math education major at Grace College, said she was glad to help.
"I have painted before and was glad I could use the skills to help out someone in our community," Trad said.
Local churches in each town provided lunch for the volunteers.
The men bonded during the annual United Way Day Of Caring.
This year was the fifth year for Day Of Caring where volunteers made repairs to homes in the county.
There were 96 homes in Kosciusko County that were improved by 775 volunteers Wednesday. Homes receiving work were in Claypool, Leesburg, Milford, Mentone, North Webster, Pierceton, Silver Lake, Syracuse, Winona Lake and Warsaw.[[In-content Ad]]
Partners for Day Of Caring were Housing Opportunities Of Warsaw, Grace College and Kosciusko Senior Services.
Kemper, owner of Lake City Builders, Warsaw, worked with other volunteers to complete repairs to Alexander's home and garage at 408 S. Third St., Pierceton.
Volunteers from DePuy, Grace College, and Tripp & Associates Insurance, worked alongside Lake City Builders employees to paint concrete steps, side a garage door, and paint the overhead door at Alexander's home.
Alexander, 75, Pierceton, served in the Korean War from 1952-54, and Kemper served in the Marines from 1972-80.
Since Alexander is a Korean War veteran, the volunteers took their efforts a step further and painted a flag on his garage door complete with stars and stripes.
Alexander said he had a stroke three years ago and gets around with a walker. He was happy to have help from the volunteers.
"The paint has been peeling on the garage for a long time and the front steps of my house needed to be repainted," Alexander said.
Kemper said he was glad to volunteer.
"With the economy, these are difficult times in the building industry, and I am glad we were able to help out Richard," Kemper said.
Several other homes in Pierceton received repairs Wednesday.
Volunteers from Lake City Bank and Grace College scraped and painted the exterior of the home of Lorraine Swanson, 536 S. First St., Pierceton.
Swanson, 85, has lived in the home for 42 years and said she was overwhelmed at the work that was done.
"I can't believe the number of volunteers who showed up, and I am thankful for the work they did," Swanson said.
Cameron Plew, Lake City Bank employee, said he was glad to help out.
"We appreciate the bank giving us time off to give back to a worthy cause in the community," Plew said.
Homeowners were required to meet three criteria to receive improvements to their homes. They were selected based on low to moderate income; senior citizens; and being handicapped.
Serenity House residents kept busy Wednesday morning trimming trees at the home of Frances Ross, 1177 Shagbark, Warsaw, in Hickory Estates.
Serenity House managers Hoss Smith and John Davisson oversaw the work.
"It is a great feeling to give back to our community what has been given to us," Smith said.
Smith said the residents plan to visit Ross two to three times a month to continue to assist her with yard work. Ross said she was appreciative of the work.
"It is hard for me to get around and to see all of these men helping me out is great," Ross said.
Volunteers from Grace College and Warsaw Community Church scraped wallpaper and painted a guest room of Michael and Summer Voss, 101 12th St., Winona Lake.
"Our neighbors nominated us to receive the work and we were blessed and surprised," Summer said.
Becky Trad, a sophomore math education major at Grace College, said she was glad to help.
"I have painted before and was glad I could use the skills to help out someone in our community," Trad said.
Local churches in each town provided lunch for the volunteers.
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