More than 180 visitors and locals join hands for Community Build
KINGSPORT ‚¬ More than 180 local and out-of-town volunteers are hard at work improving a dozen homes in and around Kingsport under a program that unites public resources with private manpower.
What began a few years ago with a chance conversation about a touring choir group looking for a community project in Kingsport has grown to this weeks Community Build event with 102 volunteers from Denton, Texas and 80 more volunteers from local churches and mission groups.
I think it speaks highly of where we are as a community and where we are going that volunteers from elsewhere are willing to join hands with local volunteers to help build a better Kingsport, Mayor Dennis Phillips said Tuesday. A couple of years ago, we put in place the Kingsport Alliance for Home Revitalization (KAHR) that really set the stage to help those who need a hand improving the livability of their homes.
KAHR is a City umbrella group that provides funding and materials for housing rehabilitation programs carried out by the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Carpenters Helpers program at First Broad Street United Methodist and Appalachia Service Project.
With this many volunteers available, it is a great opportunity to sort of blitz some of these homes on the rehab list, First Broad Street Director of Missions Danny Howe said. Carpenters Helpers have been working on homes in the city since 1987, and by bringing everyone together, in this case with HSM taking the lead on this project, we can really make a dramatic impact on the community in a hurry.
Community Build joins the KAHR program with HSM, a program that started as Home School Missions and has expanded dramatically in the community service area, although there is no paid staff.
Community Build started three years ago, and the number of volunteers from Texas has doubled, HSM Director Russ Rogers said. The city develops the list of persons who qualify and spearheads the funding and the Kingsport Conventions & Visitors Bureau helped us get hotels for the people coming in. And it takes a ton of volunteers to do the work and lots and lots of volunteers to take care of the volunteers.
We have churches now volunteering to provide lunches. We have another 10 people in five vehicles doing nothing but running water and snacks and Gatorade. And we have another eight people or so running back and forth to Home Depot to purchase and deliver supplies.
Of the dozen projects this year, three involve entire roofs, while others entail painting and water heater installations, construction of handicap ramps and assessable bathrooms.
There is lots and lots of painting and lots of hot water heater replacements, Rogers said. We have one retaining wall being reconstructed and a couple of wheelchair ramps. Were also rebuilding a couple of porches and tearing down one unsafe garage and hauling it away.
Volunteers will be in the community through Thursday. Going forward, Rogers hopes to generate even more local participation with HSM and the KAHR partners. For more information, Rogers can be reached at 782-7001 or visit http://www.hsmissions.org.
