Chris, Landon and his mom Janice, Tod
It is Friday, April 20th and we returned to Bretta's house to install doors, a dryer vent, and her kitchen cabinetry. Bretta is living in a small trailer with her daughter and four very little ones. Fifty feet away is a lovely home with three bedrooms, two full baths and a living-room, dining area and full kitchen - in boxes. There is no plan for the kitchen, so Sarah visited a woman in town with the same layout, took pictures, and Chris will design a plan for the next volunteers. We discovered in the process that some of the cabinet units are not the right dimensions for her kitchen. Sarah traveled to Lowe's to exchange one and donate another with a gift from a Weston parishioner received yesterday. Bob Putnam, one of the case managers, works constantly to purchase appliances and fixtures for residents - a task that requires endless grant applications. In the meantime, Bretta and her family huddle in the FEMA trailer (fondly referred to as "crampers" by residents).
We finished the rough window and door installation at Landon's house. He will be able to do the rest. He thanked us and all of you for making our volunteer work possible.
Trimming the last of the big limb
Landon joined us for lunch so that he could help Rev. Rawls and the lunch crowd move an outbuilding out of the path of where new construction will take place. At lunchtime, Mother Annie Oliver sang for us "Precious Lord" with such freedom, intensity and conviction that our conversation fell silent and we were forcibly reminded of why we were there and why it is a privilege to serve this community.
Before moving the shed, we had to trim a large limb off of a great tree on the corner of the property. You know what that meant; two workers balanced on the top of a sloping roof with a chainsaw, four observers, and six supervisors all giving different directions at once. We watched in awe as the tree limb fell, but the volunteers did not.
Tod, Chris and Sarah returned to Bretta's house, determined to finish installing her kitchen even though we'd be working after dark. We commandeered work lights from the bunk houses and Recovery Center chief cook and bottle washer Jim Baird packed us a substantial feast so we wouldn't miss dinner. Bretta and her family and friends and neighbors trooped over to admire the results. This work is so satisfying, we want to stay and finish everything. But we will leave early the next morning.