All in a Hard Day’s Work

Saturday, April 26

8:00 AM

After driving down a very bumpy road (Google Maps should have known better!) I arrived at my location. In the truck was hot coffee, scones, granola bars and my trusty gardening gloves. Today Babcock & Jenkins was participating in a community service project, Rebuilding Together. Rebuilding Together’s mission is to preserve and revitalize houses and communities. The organization, fueled by volunteers, ensures that low-income homeowners — from the elderly and disabled to families with children — can live healthy, safe and self-sufficient lives. We were matched with a 1900s farmhouse that was in need of some help. The owner is a Veteran and this particular house was one of three homes sponsored by Sears as part of their “Heroes at Home” program.

10:00 AM

Everyone is put to work. We began by filling an industrial-sized dumpster with blackberry bushes, tree trimmings, and Wisteria.

We had about half the crew trimming bushes away from the house and priming and painting what looks to be a 100-year-old farmhouse that hasn’t seen paint in probably 50 of those years.

The other half of our diligent do-gooders were working on cleaning off the roof and pulling Wisteria off the house. The place was already looking better and the homeowner was extremely pleased. Even nearby neighbors came and joined us in helping revitalize this home.

12:15 PM

Break for lunch!

1:00 PM

Back at it. We discovered a trailer buried in the brambles at the back of the house. Inside the trailer were tons of old organ pipes as well as vintage signs, jars and other trinkets. It was like a time capsule for the owner. One of our resident office dogs got to enjoy the sunshine while the rest of us were hard at work.

3:30 PM

Everyone heads home for the day. I think that people were feeling pretty proud of our accomplishments after taking a step back to look at the results of our hard work. It is amazing to see what can happen in a single day when everyone pitches in.