Good Works, Inc. is a Christian home repair ministry located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania formed to assist economically disadvantaged homeowners in Chester County. By helping to make their homes warmer, safer and drier, hopelessness is replaced with the hope found in Jesus Christ. Services are provided at no cost to the homeowner, with volunteers - including a growing number of St. Peter's parishioners - doing most of the work. This is St. Peter's report for August 14, 2004.


Good Works Report for August 2004
By Roger Thorne, Work Crew Leader

With the weatherman announcing the assured arrival of Hurricane Charlie in the afternoon, the workday of August 14th began with much uncertainty. Several of the projects at both the Johnson and Robinson homes were “outside work” involving power tools, hardly conducive to the presence of torrential rains. Despite the dire forecast, however, we set out to complete what we could.

And glory be, it did not rain . . . not one drop . . . and much was accomplished for our neighbors in Coatesville.

 At Mrs. Catherine Robinson's home, the first of St. Peter’s two work crews consisted of Technical Coordinator Art Wrenn, Work Crew Leader Hugh McLennan, first-timer Shawn Hester, and Good Works veterans Karl Weir, Sergio Vaisman and Brett Vaisman.  Not having a pressure washer to remove mold from Mrs. Robinson's vinyl siding, Sergio spoke with a neighbor who kindly loaned his washer, enabling he and Brett to power wash the entire Robinson home.  Several neighbors actually came over to admire the work!  Sergio and Brett also prepared all exterior woodwork for painting at the next workday. 

 The inside team, meanwhile, also made substantial progress, and Mrs. Robinson’s kitchen remodeling is now almost complete. Art and Karl installed a new vinyl floor and replaced a kitchen cabinet.  Shawn, Art and Hugh precisely fitted new trim around all the recently installed kitchen windows, and Hugh completed all necessary caulking. In the bathroom, Shawn, Art and Karl replaced a portion of the tub surround to eliminate leakage, and all wall surfaces were prepared for painting next month.

Across town, at Mrs. Esther Johnson’s home, the day’s primary focus was making safe the dwelling’s crumbling, 50-year-old front stairway and railing. Under the direction of Technical Coordinator Tom Brehm and Work Crew Leader Roger Thorne, the veteran team of Steve Rutherford, Ken Fleisher, Tom Doyle and Brian Curtis:

·         removed all crumbling concrete step debris, and the old and inadequate railing

·         mixed and poured 1/3 ton of concrete into the forms constructed for new steps and treated wood posts

·         constructed an attractive and very strong protective railing and stair railing to assure safety to Mrs. Johnson and her guests.

Additionally, Chip Colvin partially completed “trimming out” the new downstairs bathroom.

Next month, in addition to much interior and exterior painting on both homes, the “Johnson team” begins work creating ‘footers’ for what will be an ADA-approved handicapped ramp connecting the house to the street.

Our next work day will be Saturday, September 11th. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, click here. If you are willing to participate, contact Mark Carkhuff or call 610-935-1623. You really are welcome to join us, with or without technical skill, in this important ministry to our neighbors.