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 on-site work. This is St. Peter's report for January 8, 2005.
A Good Works Report for January 2005
by Karen JoyceSaturday, January 8th marked the first Good Works workday for 2005, and progress continued towards making both our “adopted” homes “warmer, safer, and drier”. St. Peter’s was blessed to have 2 strong work crews of 7 people each who could team up to tackle the jobs laid out.
At Mrs. Esther Johnson’s home, Roger Thorne led the crew as finishing touches were put on what some have termed the “world’s longest” handicapped access ramp; repairs were made to a hazardous basement stairway; ceiling tiles were replaced and repaired on the main level of the home; and general yard work was completed.
Ken Fleisher and Terry Paynter completed installation of protective latticework on the access ramp, and Tom Brehm and Art Wrenn poured a cement footing at the end of the ramp leading to the road. The completion of this ramp is quite meaningful to the elderly Mrs. Johnson who is mostly housebound now.
In the basement, Tom and Art performed yeoman’s work in a confined space making the stairway safer. After clearing much clutter, they repaired and secured the railing and replaced 2 treads that had become dangerously unstable.
In her younger days Mrs. Johnson operated a hairdresser shop in a portion of the home’s main level. After her husband died, and her health worsened, she was no longer able to use the stairway safely to reach her bedroom and bathroom on the second floor. Mrs. Johnson now lives on the main floor, with a complete bathroom and shower constructed by St. Peter’s members of Good Works on prior workdays in a portion of the old shop. It was in this area that the badly-damaged ceiling needed to be addressed. Clara-Ann Joyce applied a stain sealer on the many acoustic tiles badly stained by prior roof leaks. Clara-Ann did such a good job that the painted tiles blended in perfectly with the tiles that Karen Joyce needed to replace, thus eliminating the step of painting the entire ceiling.
Ken and Terry added yard raking and the cleaning of a clogged gutter that was overflowing on this rainy day.
Over at Mrs. Catherine Robinson’s home, Hugh McClennan guided his capable crew of Jason Hacker, Bob and Greg Dickinson, Andy Field and Brian Curtis as they continued vital repairs on her house originally built as temporary housing during WWII.
Having replaced almost all of the windows in the home on previous workdays, trim work was now begun. The crew also renovated a wall and ceiling in the back bedroom that had become badly water damaged. In addition, the kitchen and hallways were primed and painted.
The mission of showing Christ’s love by making these homes warmer, safer, and drier was truly accomplished this workday. Equally, however, if not more important, was the “quality time” both crews got to spend with these two elderly women. Both homeowners joined the crews for lunch and fellowship. Mrs. Robinson expressed the sentiment that her new windows were a symbol of the warmth and caring that St. Peter’s workers had extended to her. She and her son, John, were truly pleased and grateful for the progress made on their home. She even shared the secret of what she refers to as her “good luck meal” – ham, collard greens, black-eyed peas and sweet potato pie!
Mrs. Johnson told us some details of her interesting life. In addition to running her own hairdressing business out of her home, she was an antique collector in Ardmore for 22 years, and she pointed out many interesting pieces in her home. She also has several of her own paintings beautifully framed and on display.
It was another full day of work, but we always leave with a full heart and feeling truly blessed for the privilege of spending time with our new friends. If you are interested in joining this important ministry and would like to join us for next month’s workday, please contact Roger Thorne.
Our next work day will be Saturday, February 12th. We hope to have another large volunteer team that can accomplish the remaining interior jobs that have been deferred during the fall. If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, click here. If you are willing to participate, contact our recruiter Mark Carkhuff or call 610-935-1623. For driving directions to the Good Works warehouse in Coatesville, where we meet at 8:45 a.m. on the second Saturday of EVERY month, click here. You really are welcome to join us, with or without technical skill, in this important ministry to our neighbors.