A Tyrone-based non-profit organization is making help available for homeowners in need of making small repairs or having general maintenance done to their homes.
The Home Ministry Program is available to help those who own their own homes and are in a lower income bracket. The organization is also seeking volunteers and is looking for financial help through donations or fund raising events.
Home Ministry has been in existence since July of last year and is not connected to any church. It also receives no government funding.
“One of the benefits of the program is we can help others without all the red tape,” said Sister Jane Miller.
Miller recalled the first call the program received when it began last year.
“A woman lived with her mother and was requesting weather stripping for the windows to help conserve energy,” explained Miller. Another organization had already been to the home and had done work in the basement. However, due to limits on how much help it could offer, the organization couldn’t do anything further to the home.
“I am happy to say we were able to do the weather stripping for them,” said Miller.
She further explained many of the calls which followed were from elderly widows who were on a fixed income and could no longer do the work themselves. Other requests also came into home ministry requesting repairs to kitchen window locks, smoke detectors, kitchen lights, bathroom lights, screen doors and insulation attachments.
The Home Ministry Program has also helped with painting walls, heater vents and cabinets. The program has also been involved with cleaning curtains, mowing of grass and even weed pulling. A leaking porch roof has been replaced and the group is in the process of getting volunteers and supplies together to replace a falling kitchen ceiling.
Miller indicated calls to the Home Ministry Program are returned as soon as possible to set up a time for an initial visit to the home.
“The visits are conducted by two people from the group to meet the interested person and make sure that he or she is in the lower income bracket,” said Miller. The visit is also used to evaluate the work which needs to be done and what type of supplies will be needed to complete the project.
“Each job is considered on a first come, first serve basis and on the ability of the volunteers,” said Miller. “The program pays for the materials and if possible the person being helped makes a donation towards the cost.”
Miller said the best part of the program is the relationships which are built by helping others. Many of the repairs/replacements are small items but some people are no longer able to do the work themselves. Others may not have family members in the area to help them.
“Right now we have about seven volunteers as well as some companies who help such as a roofing company and a carpenter,” Miller told The Daily Herald.
Miller said she got involved with the program because she always liked working with her hands (making small repairs) and because she saw the need for the service even in her own family. She noted those in the religious are urged to reach out to the poor. The program has helped about 20 homeowners since last July.
“It has been a wonderful experience when we do a small repair and see the joy in a person’s face because the repair (not be able to have it done) was bothering them,” said Miller.
So far the organization has relied on a few small grants, in kind use of goods and the donation of its founder’s salary. However, most of the funding has come through donations from others and Miller said she is extremely thankful to the community. People from throughout the northern Blair area may participate in the program. Sister Jane did indicate residents in Altoona and other parts of Blair County have also been helped and are welcome to use it.
Those in need of help or wishing to volunteer or donate should contact the Home Ministry Program by calling 931-1120 and asking for Sister Jane Miller.
