Needed home repairs provided by Habitat for Humanity, Bike & Build riders

Bike & Build riders working on a home's rooftop, July 17, 2012. | Photo courtesy of the Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah

ST. GEORGE – Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah teamed up with Bike and Build volunteers to help repair homes in St. George on Tuesday.

While Habitat for Humanity is primarily known for providing affordable housing options to those in need, it also serves families in Washington County by completing exterior home repair projects for eligible low-income homeowners through the A Brush with Kindness program.

On July 17, Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah proudly partnered with Bike & Build to complete six exterior home repair projects in Bloomington, St George, and Washington.

“We are thrilled to have been selected to work with Bike & Build this summer. The community received great benefits from the collaboration between our two organizations,” said Melissa Ann Santora, Director of Community Engagement for Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah.

Three of the projects the Bike & Build members worked on were deck repairs in the Dixie Downs area. 

One of the homes belongs to Cynthia Johnston. Her roof was in need of repair and support beams needed replacement.  Both have been seen to by the building cyclists. They are also painting her house.

“They’ve been wonderful,” Johnston said, “Beyond my expectations.”

Johnston said she was grateful for the help. Due to a disability she was unable to tend to her home’s much needed repairs. Thanks to Bike and Build riders, she doesn’t have to worry anymore.

“This (house) is all I’ve got,” Johnston said, and added she “couldn’t say enough” about the aid given to her via the Habitat for Humanity and Bike and Build volunteers. “Everyone has been so gracious,” she said.

Bike & Build group in front of the Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in St. George, July 17, 2012. | Photo courtesy of the Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah.

The Bike & Build riders were housed by Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, whose parishioners also provided the group meals while in St George. The group was also provided hot showers courtesy of Washington City Community Recreation Center.

Bike & Build was established in 2002, and through service-oriented cycling trips benefits affordable housing and empowers young adults for a lifetime of service and civic engagement. Through engaging young adults as active agents and ambassadors for affordable housing efforts, Bike & Build enables them to test their limits, become engaged and active citizens, and impact the housing landscape.

“Our experience working with Habitat of Southwest Utah has just been wonderful given our interactions with the community members here,” wrote blogger Meghan Yi, a Bike & Build cyclist from Maryland, who is enrolled at Albany Medical College.

She added, “The homeowners … I met were so appreciative, our construction leaders…were cool guys and super patient with us, the church members were awesome, preparing literally all of our meals for us, and Melissa, the Director of Community Engagement, has been so awesome in organizing our stay here and taking care of us.”

To read more of Meghan’s blog, or to learn more about the Bike & Build program, visit www.bikeandbuild.org and click on the Southern US Route.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah, or to apply for the A Brush with Kindness program, please call 435-674-7669. Remember to visit the Habitat for Humanity of Southwest Utah ReStore, 267 East 1400 South in St George, for all your home improvement needs.

 

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.