Yes, they can

Last but not least (110x28!)

we painted the home of Vera McIntyre, president
of the Lower Ninth Ward Residents Council.

The Varnodo's

At church on Sunday Alton and Minnie Varnodo
asked if we could help them. Their back door,
rotting and left over from the flooding and held
in place with 2 2x4’s, was on its last legs.


They had a new door,
but no contractor
was willing to come and
do such a simple job.
We went to their home, at 601 Betz Ave.,
took out and replaced the old door and frame.

Their furnace needed to be lit too,
but another contractor had miswired it.
We contacted a reputable contractor;
arranged for him to repair the wiring,
light the furnace,
and left $$ to pay for his work.
We heard stories like theirs over and again,
stories of slipshod, over-priced repairs,
and, although we didn’t think we were doing
all that much, our hard and quality work led
folks like the Varnodo’s to stand up in church
and give thanks for us after we left.

Hartzell United Methodist Church

Once under 4 metres of water, it was restored,
had added two big rooms with bunk beds
for workers coming in December
and March Break. The washrooms were ready too.
The kitchen wasn’t---no plumbing was connected.

The Parsonage, Cornerstone Methodist Church

Ready for drywalling, etc., but plumbing and gas line needed fixing. A little yard work would help too.

Pastor Boutee's home

Structurally sound, it had no doors inside, no trim, and plumbing needed. Any chance we could get it fixed up for move in? Sure.

Miss Gloria's House

If your home isn't boarded up and the yard kept, even though you are waiting for the insurance and/or grant to start work on your home, it can be, with two days notice, bulldozed. Miss Gloria's house won't be, now.

Work at Lizardi

We've been home almost a month

and have been a little slow to get up more pics, etc.
Time to rectify that,
but first, here's my excuse.
We've been trying to figure out if we can do this again, soon.
We finally decided we can and will, so we're going back to finish the Lizardi Head Start Center, a daycare with a waiting list of 50 kids.
Our job was to install wiring and drywall, after cleaning the place out, so that an office space could be created.
We couldn't do it, the roof still leaked.
We left Lizardi St. but it didn't leave us. We're going back in April 2008 to fix the roof, put in electricity and plumbing, flooring and drywall and paint the inside and outside. When we're done, it will be ready for the staff to move back in and then, the kids!

Now that it's framed