Effort needs helping hands

By Janet Jacobs

October 06, 2008 11:52 pm

— Christmas in Action has dozens of new projects this year, and needs teams of volunteers to lend a hand. Some are simple, others more complex, but all involve neighbors helping each other.
Today at 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Corsicana, the volunteers who have already stepped up will get a chance to hear about the projects available. Anyone interested in volunteering is welcome to attend.
“We’ve got some painting, some brush trimming, some porch repairs, and some cabinet work,” said Loran Seely, with Christmas in Action.
The local non-profit organization has more than 70 requests from local residents, mostly elderly, who need some sort of work done on their homes. Unfortunately, although there are more than 70 projects, there are only 15 teams signed up so far, Seely said.
“Any help at all is certainly welcomed,” he said. “Christmas in Action provides the materials. The manpower and know-how is all we’re asking for, and mostly it’s the manpower.”
Over the last 15 years, Christmas in Action has repaired over 175 homes in Navarro County.
Last year, community service workers rebuilt the home of a widow in Retreat, and a church group painted the home of a couple in their 80s who were suffering from ill health. A group of teens from Corsicana High School’s Council for International Affairs built a wheelchair ramp for an elderly man who formerly had to be lifted into his home, and the Navarro College baseball team helped clear brush and paint the home of an elderly man living alone.
Two of the young men returned for three weekends afterwards to help repair the man’s pickup truck and get it running again.
Volunteers are asked to give one or two Saturdays assisting with a project, and teams may pick their own projects.
Christmas in Action is a local organization in Navarro County, supported by local banks, foundations and individuals. Funds raised are used to buy supplies and volunteers repair the houses.
The first official work day is scheduled for Oct. 25, although volunteers may begin earlier or later than that, Seely said.
Chuck McClanahan, former city councilman, said he started with Christmas in Action about four years ago, as part of a church group. That first year, they did some work for an elderly woman, and it was the look on her face that keeps him coming back year after year, he said.
“I can remember the lady’s expression on her face when we got her off her couch and brought her out and showed her the work we’d done, and how appreciative she was that we would do that, she couldn’t believe people would give up a pretty Saturday to come out and help somebody they didn’t even know,” McClanahan said.
They worked on 25 different homes last year.
“Some of the projects took two Saturdays, some have taken more than that,” he said. “It’s really whatever the job took. We try not to take on jobs that we don’t have the expertise to do.”
Although most of the work will be tackled on Oct. 25 (Christmas in Action used to be called Christmas in October), now work goes on year-round, McClanahan said.
“We’ve got some funds, and if somebody needs a little plumbing or a little roofing, we can get that done,” he said. “One of the most common projects is wheelchair ramps for folks who’ve gotten older and can’t get into their homes.”
George Winningham who works as a handyman said he got involved through his church, First United Methodist. He’s been on the board for the past three years.
“It’s just helping people who need it,” he said.
For more information, or to volunteer to help with this year’s list of projects, call Alvis Reeves at (903) 875-8727.
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Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com

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