Volunteers Descend On 60 County Homes During 'Day Of Caring'
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
More than 280 volunteers worked Wednesday to make 60 residences in Kosciusko County more like home.
United Way and Housing Opportunities of Warsaw teamed up with approximately 150 Grace College students from the college's Department of Character Leadership and Development and 22 businesses to participate in the third annual Community Day of Caring.
Volunteers spent the day at 60 homes throughout the county, completing many projects such as painting a barn and porches, completing yardwork, and building handicapped ramps.
Pam Kennedy, executive director of Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, said this year's event has grown from the previous years. There were 24 homes that were worked on in the county during last year's event.
HOW's mission is to provide safe and affordable housing for residents in the county.
Kennedy said volunteers had the opportunity to work in other towns than they reside.
"The community support helped volunteers spread their wings and allowed many more people to receive home repairs this year," Kennedy said.
The day began with a breakfast for volunteers. Work began at 8 a.m. and projects were completed by 5 p.m.
The list of homes worked on were 21 in Warsaw, nine in Winona Lake, eight in Claypool, six in Burket, four in Mentone, seven in Syracuse and five in Milford.
Forms were distributed around the county for homeowners who needed tasks completed such as home repairs, painting, cleaning and yardwork.
White and blue posters were stationed outside each residence that said Day of Caring. Volunteers wore blue shirts with white words that said "Day of Caring."
One of the many homes that was worked on was the home of Bob and Barb Brilliant, 4598 N. Ind. 15, Warsaw.
There were 17 Embarq employees and two retired employees who worked on tasks such as painting the couple's barn, family room and shutters on the home exterior. The couple have lived in the home since 1992 and said the barn was painted seven years ago, but the paint has faded due to weather.
"We appreciate the work being done because I can't get on a ladder because I have bad knees and my husband fell off a ladder and broke his ribs awhile back," Barb said.
Ivan Oberlin, a retired Embarq employee who helped Embarq employees paint the barn, said it was his first time for participating in Day of Caring.
"It is great to have the opportunity to help someone out," Oberlin said.
Another home that was worked on was Winona Lake resident Sandy McClellan's at 105 Fourth St. Volunteers from Grace College painted McClellan's porch, installed light fixtures, trimmed bushes, cleaned gutters and trimmed trees.
Heidi Class, a sophomore elementary education major, said she heard about the event a year and go and is happy to participate this year.
"It is an awesome opportunity to be involved with helping and serving the community," Class said.
McClellan said she was appreciative for the work completed by the volunteers.
"I am very pleased to have this work done because I don't have the time, energy and resources to do the work myself," McClellan said.
The volunteers received lunch provided by churches in Warsaw, Burket, Mentone, Winona Lake, Claypool and Syracuse.
A celebration service was held Wednesday night at the Winona Lake amphitheater where volunteers and homeowners attended and had the opportunity to share their experiences with the day.
Volunteers are needed for next year. For more information or to volunteer, call the United Way at 574-269-2592 or Housing Opportunities of Warsaw at 574-269-7641.
