More Than Repairs: A Lasting Lift
Peace of Mind Year-Round
In the middle of our Spring HomeFront Days, we wanted to give our closest friends a behind-the-scenes look. It’s been a privilege to see our 600 HomeFront volunteers fixing up 20 homes inside and out. We’re so grateful to the donors and grantors who have helped to make it happen. Before and after photos tell a powerful story of our impact. But, as we close out the month of May—Mental Health Awareness Month—we are reminded of the impact our work has on the hearts and minds of those we help, as well as the helpers. When we ask assisted families, their top response is that our work lifted their spirits, psychologically. We’d like to share one such story with you from our Spring work sites.
From Frustration to Peace of Mind
R-L: Frank, his wife, Lori, and their "best friend.”
Frank is a 52-year-old veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Unfortunately, he blew out his knee during his service. In his civilian life, Frank became a contractor. “I noticed there was so much price gouging. I really wanted to focus on giving widows and single parents a fair price,” Frank said. This was before his contracting days were cut short by heart failure. The right match came along last year and Frank received a heart transplant. Success for the transplant would hinge on limiting the strain on his heart. The place Frank and his wife Lori, call home was suddenly, a mismatch for his needs with carpets that were difficult for him to navigate in his wheelchair. It was enormously frustrating for Frank. He had the skills but was now physically limited.
What followed was another stroke of luck. They found HomeFront and applied. Volunteers from St. Paul Church of Kensington were so moved by Frank’s plight that they became the answer to their prayers. Volunteers removed the carpet and installed quality tile, swapped out rotted doors, brightened the home with fresh coats of paint and tackled yard work. The group noticed that their garage doors were now too heavy for Frank and his wife, so plans are in the works to replace them. We could hear the relief in Frank’s voice when he said, "Everything was fabulous. We are very grateful. It was hard to watch our Volunteer House Captain, Bob (Fischer), run up and down the stairs leading work that I used to be able to do, but it was a HUGE help. We don't want to go anywhere. This is where we want to stay."
If Frank and Lori had to pay for these improvements, it would have cost them north of $10,000, but it also lifted an enormous emotional weight off their shoulders. The lasting impact goes beyond the physical fixes. Frank and Lori were deeply touched to see volunteers of all ages, including local high school students, giving their time and heart. It’s something we hear often—years later, assisted homeowners still point out the places where volunteers transformed their home for the better on HomeFront Day.
What’s special about HomeFront is that Frank & Lori aren’t the only ones who get a boost out of the experience. Just listen to what St. Paul’s House Captain, Bob Fischer had to say, “The gratitude from Frank and Lori kept everyone going. Even new volunteers who arrived later in the day felt the same vibration and aura. We could tell they had a real need—and we could do something about it.”
Experts at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) suggest that strong social connections can reduce feelings of isolation, foster resilience and support struggling individuals. This type of connection was fully on display at Frank’s Plainville home—all the more meaningful at a time when there is so much focus on how divided the world is.
L-R: St. Paul's Volunteer leaders, Lynn Misteri & Bob Fischer.
Together, we can spread this peace of mind to more of the places where it is needed most this Summer and Fall. Right now, we have 90 more requests from veterans and 800 from other families in need. The summer is when we shift into our Critical Pro Repair effort, sending skilled volunteers to tackle targeted repairs. And, our Fall HomeFront Days are just around the corner in September. Cuts to housing support programs make us more determined than ever to ratchet up the impact despite rising costs of materials. We thank you for considering a donation of any amount that can help us to fix what’s broken and lift what’s heavy for more families like Frank & Lori. Stay tuned for more smiles from the homes we touch together.
Lastly, if you know of someone struggling with mental health, here are some resources:
Dial 988 for our Nation’s Suicide & Crisis Lifeline