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June 20, 2010
Many Volunteers Tackle Home Makeover
Many Volunteers Tackle Home Makeover
Published: Friday, June 18, 2010
By Alice Tessier
Volunteers painting the Casalone house, including Peter Brady at the top of the ladder.
It’s not often that one bad thing on top of another leads to something good, but that’s what has happened to a longtime Bethel resident when an unhealthy living situation led to a homemakeover, thanks to a huge community effort spearheaded by the Brookfield-based Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry (HDHM).
Joe Casalone, who works at ShopRite in Brookfield, found himself in one tough position after another earlier this year. He was the victim of a home intruder, and heavy winter rains flooded his basement, leaving him without water and electricity for a while, according to Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker.
“Joe, who is 63, has lived in his family home for 60 years,” said Peter Brady, who spearheaded HDHM many years ago, when it originated as an outreach endeavor of St. Joseph Church parish in Brookfield.
“I had met Joe at Thanksgiving time, and later a friend at church later told me he needed help. Thankfully, he wasn’t harmed by the intruder, but he needed help with his house,” Mr. Brady said.
The Brookfield resident noted that more than 50 volunteers and “between 15 and 20: professionals, including skilled contractors, turned out to work on the makeover project, over a two week period, at no cost to Mr. Casalone.
It was brought to a successful and joyful conclusion thanks to the generosity of those who donated to the effort as well.
Joe Casalone, left, shakes hands with Alan Smith from Smith Brothers Construction in Brookfield, the lead carpenter, who donated $7,000 of his work in renovating the kitchen and bathroom on his own.
As always, the home makeover project ended with a celebration.
“They had a block party, and lots of people were there to help Mr. Casalone celebrate,” said Mr. Knickerbocker. “It really was wonderful what people did for him.”
Mr. Casalone was not available for comment, but both Mr. Knickerbocker and Mr. Brady said he was “very happy” that there was “so much support for him.”
Mr. Brady said volunteers cleared the house out. The bathroom and kitchen were gutted and redone, and new floors. Volunteers then painted it “inside and out” and some “major tree work” was done. Some furniture was also provided to make the resident more comfortable in his newly renovated home.
“It was a terrific outpouring of help,” said Mr. Knickerbocker, noting that help came from “the area community.”
Mr. Brady, who retired several years ago from Nestles in New Milford, volunteers his time throughout the year through HDHM, an outreach ministry of his church, to do home repairs for people needing assistance.
What began as a Brookfield program in 2000 has grown over the years to include other communities in the Greater Danbury area, in terms of both households receiving assistance and volunteers who contribute their time and effort.
In 2008, HDHM undertook its first home makeover, at a residence in New Milford. Last year, a residence in Brookfield was chosen.
Posted by hdhm at June 20, 2010 1:17 PM