By Joe Simons

For the past 27 years, a dedicated group of parishioners from St. Edward the Confessor Church has come together to lend a helping hand to a local homeowner in need.  This year’s project spanned two weekends and assisted a single mother, a St. Edward parishioner, who is raising three children.

On the first weekend, 28 parishioners volunteered their time and talents, followed by 38 volunteers on the second weekend.  Under the leadership of longtime project coordinators Debbie Blum and Doris McDermott, volunteers completed an extensive range of improvements throughout the house and yard.

One of the largest undertakings was a complete renovation of an upstairs bathroom.  Volunteers also painted numerous interior spaces, including an entire downstairs in-law apartment, the living room, dining room, kitchen, hallway, and stairway.  Significant electrical upgrades included the installation of new thermostats, lighting fixtures in multiple rooms, ceiling fans, and outdoor lighting.  Outside, volunteers repaired and painted two decks and pruned numerous shrubs and trees.

Among the volunteers was Cooper Mikolay, a New Fairfield High School student and one of seven teens who participated this year. Cooper, who also helped with last year’s project, explained why he returned.  “I enjoy helping out and being around the community with all the amazing people that are around here.”

First-time volunteer Kyra Matusow-Pransky, a New Fairfield High School freshman, shared her thoughts on the experience: “I think everything is so great, and even though in the beginning you work really hard, in the end it’s worth it.”  Fellow volunteer Ava Adamchak added: “The community we’re surrounded by right now is loving and caring, and all this hard work is for a great cause. It’s a lot of fun, actually.”

When the project was completed, the homeowner expressed heartfelt gratitude for the volunteers’ efforts.  “It is just amazing. This is like a whole new house. So many people ended up volunteering, and they did much more than planned. I don’t even have words. We are so happy.”

The St. Edward initiative is coordinated through HomeFront, a community-based program dedicated to helping low-income homeowners remain in their homes through substantial repairs provided at no cost. Since 1988, HomeFront volunteers have repaired more than 3,200 homes. Beyond the physical improvements, these projects provide stability, dignity, and renewed hope to the families they serve.  For more information about HomeFront, visit HomeFront Program.