Rebuilding Together Charleston and Christ Church United Methodist's C.R.O.S.S. (Christians Reaching Out Serving the Savior) Ministry are matching up an army of more than 300 volunteers from across the country with homeowners in Kanawha and Putnam counties who need home repairs, but lack the resources needed to pay for them.
"This summer, we will be going to peoples' homes and fixing things that they can't afford to do on their own," said Kathy Chaney, who directs the C.R.O.S.S. Ministry at Christ Church. "We're bringing in groups of volunteers who will be working here for a week at a time from June through early August. Right now, we're in the process of finding homes for them to be working on. The basic idea for repairs is to keep people warm, safe and dry, and let the elderly stay in their homes as long as possible."
In past years, Rebuilding Together and Christ Church United Methodist volunteers have rebuilt roofs, done minor plumbing work, and installed flooring, windows and access ramps, among other projects, for qualifying homeowners. To be eligible for assistance from the Rebuilding Together /C.R.O.S.S. Ministry project, those receiving repairs have to meet certain income guidelines and must own, rather than rent, their homes.
A Victorian house near Christ Church that congregation members have renovated will provide accommodations for volunteer workers, who will be arriving from points as far afield as Texas and Connecticut.
"For years, volunteers from our church have gone to other places and done mission work," Chaney said. "We thought it would be good to come back to Kanawha and Putnam counties and do the same kind of work here."
Homeowners seeking to apply for home repairs through the summer program may call Chaney at 304-546-8513, Christ Church United Methodist at 304-342-0192, ext. 201, or Nemo Nearman at Rebuilding Together at 304-343-4663.
Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelhammer@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5169 or follow @rsteelhammer on Twitter.