Our team here at NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley was beyond excited to facilitate an incredible opportunity for Woonsocket homeowners this July, when 119 Group Cares youth campers and their adult chaperones descended on Woonsocket in a mass effort to repair 15 homes.
From five different states, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, eight different Christian youth groups came together to deepen their faith through service. Senior citizens, veterans, disabled and lower-income Woonsocket homeowners benefited from the no-strings-attached free home repair program. The week’s repair projects included exterior paint jobs, deck repair, step repair, and landscaping.
“Home repairs are expensive, and current inflation and rising interest rates have made many necessary repairs out of reach for so many local homeowners,” said Paula Rezendes, NWBRV Free Home Repair Project Manager. “We’re grateful for the commitment of these young adults from across the country who volunteered their time and money to support these Woonsocket residents.”
Volunteers stayed at Woonsocket Middle School; sleeping on classroom floors, enjoying their meals in the cafeteria and breaking into teams of six to provide repairs at homes during the day. The campers came together twice a day for an inspirational program and prayer session run by the Group Mission Trip team.
“Thank you to the crew we had, Joanna, Jolynn, Anna, Julia, Elijah, Matteo, MacKenzie, Micah, Evan, Madi, Bret, and Joseph,” expressed program participant Keith Plante. “I worked with them everyday from 9am-3pm. Thank you to my son Trey who also helped. As one of the recipients of their work, it was an honor and pleasure to get to know and work with such a great group. Friendships that will last forever. We had a blast for the entire week.”
“This is my second year doing this,” Paula shared. “After meeting with all of the homeowners, everyone is just so appreciative of these young folks coming in and helping them and they were so excited to meet them…for some of the older residents it may be the highlight of their summer. It’s nice to bring youthful energy into their homes.”
I’m very happy I was able to participate in this program! The kids were at my house for five days painting the outside. We were even able to share a meal and pray with them at lunch! My house is now a beautiful Cape Cod grey with black shutters.”
2023 Free Home Repair Recipient, Dorothy Glaude
2023 marked the fifth year NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley has partnered with Group Cares to offer the Free Home Repair Program. Over the course of the first four years of the program, which took place in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022, 180 homes have been repaired by 1378 volunteers, contributing over 30,000 hours of volunteer investment into the City. The Free Home Repair Program has invested $1.5 million in the Woonsocket Community since launching in 2016.
It was a pleasure to meet some of these young people who came to help repair and paint in Woonsocket! They had me in tears on Friday night at their last event of the week. A great big thank you to all from NeighborWorks and to all the adults and youth involved. Thanks Paula!”
Jeannette Houle, Program participant
Group Cares, a Loveland Colorado based nonprofit, serves communities worldwide through donations of money, time and manpower. The Christian organization behind parent organization Group Mission Trips, works tirelessly to bring meaningful service to the communities they serve.
“Group Mission Trips is excited to continue our partnership with NeighborWorks for the sixth year of bringing these young people here to provide an opportunity for these great youth and their leaders to serve the residents of Woonsocket,” Camp Director Jeff Bettinger said.
“We’ve all experienced rising prices on everyday items. These price increases are especially difficult for those living on a fixed income like many of our retired neighbors” expressed Meg Rego, Director of Resource Development & Communications for NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley. “The Free Home Repair program exists to support these homeowners who were able to purchase their homes at one point, but now need a little extra help to afford to keep their homes safe, healthy, and beautiful. Over the course of the week, volunteers will collectively contribute 3,213 hours of volunteer labor – with a total economic impact to the community of $102,687.”
We’d also like to extend our sincere gratitude to the City of Woonsocket and our area partners. Without their support and assistance, opportunities such as these wouldn’t be possible.
“We are particularly grateful for our partnership with Lowes and the Valspar representative who was exceptionally generous in their pricing,” Paula said. “We also work closely with Beauchemin for all of our Lumber needs. Don is always ready to lend his expertise and coordinate individual lumber deliveries to each site.”
For more information on Group Cares , please visit Group Cares online at https://groupmissiontrips.com/trip-types/home-repair. Whether you seek home repair, or to be a part of this wonderful organization, we encourage you to research the program further.
Questions about the 2024 Free Home Repair Program can be directed to the Program Manager Paula Rezendes, prezendes@nwbrv.org, 401-762-0993.
