DC Habitat and MARS Launch A Brush With Kindness
Work being done on Robert Truesdale's home
On November 12, 2009, a group of MARS, Inc. associates from around the globe joined Habitat for Humanity of Washington, D.C. to kick-off a new housing repair program called A Brush with Kindness (ABWK). Through the program, D.C. Habitat and volunteers are repairing homes in partnership with qualified, low-income homeowners. The program’s launch took place in the area surrounding D.C. Habitat’s ‘Northeast Parcel’ development in the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C.
D.C. Habitat’s ABWK program has a goal to serve low-income homeowners who struggle to maintain the exteriors of their homes. The work – including painting, landscaping, weatherization and other minor exterior repairs – is done by volunteers who use donated materials whenever possible.
“Habitat’s A Brush with Kindness gives us a great opportunity to help more families in need,” said Kent Adcock, president of D.C. Habitat for Humanity. “Helping people repair and maintain their homes fits in seamlessly with Habitat’s core mission of making decent, affordable housing available to low-income families.”
This launch event was one of several Washington, D.C. service projects in which a select group of MARS associates participated during the week of November 9. They traveled from countries such as Brazil, China, Dubai, Egypt, and Korea, among others to take part.
In addition to helping repair five homes, MARS volunteers assembled and delivered gift baskets to all D.C. Habitat homeowners residing in the Northeast Parcel. The baskets contained candy and food products donated by the company.
The most significant repairs made by ABWK volunteers on November 10 were to the home of Pastor Robert Truesdale of Eads Street, NE. He has lived in the run-down, one-room house for three years with no running water or electricity. Through the efforts of volunteers, the home has received several major repairs, including waterproofing of the exterior.
“God works in mysterious ways,” said Truesdale, who hopes to eventually open his home to others as a community outreach center.
“We believe these are people of integrity, they work hard and they just need a hand up, not a hand out,” said Adcock.
You can read more about Robert Truesdale’s home at:
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=93502
