Updated: Tuesday, 15 Jun 2010, 10:06 AM EDT Published : Monday, 14 Jun 2010, 10:08 PM EDT
MYFOXNY.COM - In a nationwide campaign, Major League Baseball and People magazine have joined together to nominate exceptional people who are serving the needs of their community in exceptional ways. The three finalists representing the Yankees ball club visited Good Day NY.
PETER BRADY FROM BROOKFIELD, CONNECTICUT
In 1998, Brookfield, Connecticut resident Peter Brady started volunteering as a part-time handyman for seniors in his church's parish community. He raked leaves, changed light bulbs, and fixed leaky faucets. Today, the Handy Dandy Man Ministry is an official nonprofit with more than 1,000 volunteers helping 400 seniors in seven greater Danbury towns. His ministry also includes performing Extreme Home Makeovers for the less fortunate.
CATHLEEN LAPORTE FROM NEW YORK CITY
Six years ago, Cathleen Laporte founded Athletes for Charity, a volunteer-based organization, to benefit disadvantaged youth. The organization works with professional athletes, sports leagues and teams, various sports professionals, foster care agencies and related organizations, as well as volunteers and mentors, to empower and support the development of underprivileged youth.
CURTIS HILL FROM NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
For many children in underserved communities, owning a computer is only a dream. In 2002, Curtis Hill co-founded the non-profit Concepts for Adaptive Learning, which provides computer training, computers, tech support and free internet access to low-income families in New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury, Connecticut. To date, the team at Concepts for Adaptive Learning has trained and given computers to more the 1,600 families.
The nominees selected based on those who did amazing work in their community. Nominees can be from anywhere in the country. These 3 finalists said they most identified with the Yankees - all are big fans of the Yankees.
BROOKFIELD -- The Handy Dandy Handyman and his ministry are well known in Brookfield. Peter Brady organizes the annual Rake n' Bake and oversees 1,000 volunteers who do everything from odd jobs to major home renovations for the community's less fortunate.
The local hero was recently recognized as an "All-Star" in the "All-Stars Among Us Campaign," a contest sponsored by Major League Baseball and People magazine.
More than 1.7 million fans voted for a volunteer to represent each of the 30 major league baseball teams, and Brady won the vote to represent the New York Yankees.
Brady was invited to attend a Yankees game along with the other two finalists. They watched the game from a luxury suite and got to go down to the dugout to meet the players and get their autographs. Before the game started, they went out onto the field and were introduced to the crowd.
Brady and his family will travel to Anaheim, Cali., to attend the All-Star game on July 13.
"We're going to see what goes on and meet a few of the players," Brady said. "They told us they have a few surprises for us as well."
One of Brady's latest projects was helping a Shop Rite cart collector who was in danger of getting evicted. Joe Casolone has worked at Shop Rite for 18 years and has lived in his Bethel home for 60 years. He was in danger of getting evicted because his home violated health codes. Brady amassed contractors and volunteers to renovate the home in April. The project took about one month, and cost about $52,000 in labor and supplies.
This is not the first time Brady has been nationally recognized. In 2009, he was a finalist in ABC's "The View" Ultimate Volunteer Contest. He finished in second place.
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.
Brookfield family loses everything in fire, but rebuilds life with community support
Vinti Singh, STAFF WRITER
Published: 10:19 p.m., Saturday, May 15, 2010
Peter Robb, of Brookfield, with his children, left to right, Logan, 8; Lily, 12 ;and Liam,10. The photograph was taken shortly after a fire destroyed their home on Elbow Hill Road in Brookfield in January. Photo: Contributed Photo / The News-Times Contributed
Peter Robb, of Brookfield, with his children, left to right, Logan, 8; Lily, 12 ;and Liam,10. The photograph was taken shortly after a fire destroyed their home on Elbow Hill Road in Brookfield in January. Photo: Contributed Photo / The News-Times Contributed Page 1 of 1
BROOKFIELD -- "Why am I awake on a Sunday morning?" Peter Robb asked himself on a chilly January morning. He was up well before dawn, and couldn't get back to sleep. He made his way downstairs, put on a pot of coffee, restocked the wood stove and settled in front of the TV.
Then he heard a crackling noise. It sounded like a mouse was trying to chew through some cellophane. The cottage he lived in was built in the 1850s, so mice were part of the territory.
He got up to check out the noise. The stove was working fine. He looked up, and that's when he saw, through a small slit in the vent, that the roof and rafters were on fire. The blaze was so intense, he could hear it on the first floor.
Still in a T-shirts and boxers, he woke up his three children and piled them into the car. He couldn't find his home phone and his cell phone wasn't picking up a signal.
He had no choice but to drive from Elbow Hill Road to the police station and tell them his house was on fire.
Barefoot and barely clothed, Robb and his children watched crews put out the flames. Their house was destroyed. They lost everything except for a few clothes, toys, photos and odds and ends.
Logan Robb, 8, said what he missed most was his stuffed animal Tiddly, that he and his father would cuddle with at bedtime.
"But I told my kids, the stuff we lost is just stuff," Robb said. "And we can replace things."
The date was January 31. As a single dad trying to support three children on his own, Robb did not have renter's insurance. He is a professional tree trimmer, but had gotten no work in the winter months and was basically unemployed. He wanted to stay in Brookfield to keep his kids in the school system. Also, the children's great aunt lives there.
A friend of Robb's got in touch with Peter Brady, known locally as the Handy Dandy Handyman, later that day.
When he retired in 2000, Brady devoted himself full-time to his non-profit ministry , which is spiritually based out of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Brookfield. The ministry builds ramps for handicapped seniors to get out of their homes and does odd jobs for seniors, widowed, sick and unemployed people.
"I heard he was a single dad with three children," Brady said. "When I hear about children, that gets to me."
Robb and Brady met on Feb. 1 at Panera Bread for lunch. Brady listened to Robb's story and said he would do whatever he could to help.
"He put all his other projects on hold for us," Robb said.
Brady has an e-mail contact network of more than 2,000 people in Connecticut and New York.
He had recently reached out to the network to help out two cancer patients. "I hate to ask again," he titled the e-mail. He asked them for cash and gift card donations.
Less than two weeks later, 140 people responded from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida and Illinois. They donated $10,000 in cash and $600 in gift cards.
Robb and his children lived with their great aunt while he looked for a new home. He finally found a three-bedroom home on Nabby Road that is owned by the Brookfield Nature Conservancy.
Brady reached out to his network again, this time asking for furniture and other home goods. The response, again, was overwhelming. With donations from 13 families, there was enough to furnish the entire house.
Saturday, March 18, a crew of volunteers moved all of the furniture into the house by 11:30 a.m.
Afterwords, the crew went out to John's Best Pizza in Brookfield.
"The two boys liked their new room so much they didn't want to leave it to go to lunch," Brady said.
Brady said checks and gift cards are still trickling in for the family.
"It's been overwhelming," Robb said. "I have to hold back sometimes because I feel like I am going to explode. I don't feel deserving of all this generosity. It's very hard to put your pride in your back pocket and receive when you just want to give."
Robb said he is there to help the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry whenever he is needed, and his oldest child, Lily, 12, said she looked forward to volunteering in the Rake n' Bake, the ministry's biggest event.
Brady said the Robbs are back on their feet and they will be just fine.
"(Peter Robb) is a hard worker and an aggressive worker, and I like supporting people like that," Brady said. "I like people that don't just take, but ask how they can give back."
Liam Robb, 10, said he was impressed with the community support and happy to get a new house.
Grocery employee benefits from Handyman's work By Emily Froehlich, Contributing Writer
Published: 08:43 p.m., Thursday, December 24, 2009
BROOKFIELD -- Braving the cold winter wind, about 40 people gathered in the ShopRite parking lot. In the center of the gathering Tuesday stood Peter Brady, organizer of the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry and of the day's events. Beside him was a white 2003 Chevrolet Malibu and a beaming Joe Casalone.
Casalone, of Bethel, has rounded up shopping carts at ShopRite for 18 years. "Shopping is no fun," said Brookfield's Mary Dandanell. "But every time I come here, Joe makes a happy moment of it." At the beginning of December, Casalone was told his car was beyond repair. Since then, he has taken the bus to work. Brady met Casalone at the Thanksgiving dinner the ministry co-hosted with Bertucci's restaurant on Newtown Road in Danbury. When Brady heard of Casalone's plight, he wasted no time. "I sent out an e-mail to (the ministry's) more than 2,000 followers to see what we could do," Brady said. Less than two weeks later, a local family stepped up to donate the car. "When Peter calls, we answer," Don Mitchell, co-owner of Mitchell Oil, told the crowd. Everyone in the crowd knew Casalone, and he knew most of them by name. Kathy Wieck, of Brookfield, said she moved to the area from Stamford and frequents ShopRite once or twice a week. "When I started coming here, I'd get out of my car and Joe would say, `Hello, ma'am. How are you? What's your name?' " Wieck said. "After two or three weeks, he knew me by name." In addition to the car, community members heaped Casalone with other gifts, including a new winter coat and hat, cards, gift certificates and more. Rep. David Scribner, R-Brookfield, presented Casalone with a certificate in recognition of his service to the community. Casalone's neighbors, Fred and Charlene Yorks, said they have known Casalone for a long time. "It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy," Charlene Yorks said. "He deserves it." Casalone said he was excited but humbled by the community's generosity. "I never expected this to happen to me in my lifetime," he said. "A car buys you freedom. ... I'm thankful for this humanitarian gesture." Contact Emily Froehlich at efroehlich@newstimes.com or 203-731-3370.
Local business, community group share Thanksgiving with others
DANBURY-- A local restaurant community came together Thursday to give the gift of a Thanksgiving meal to people who may not have had it otherwise."
"It's the best of both worlds," said Caitlyn Healy, a hostess at Bertucci's. "We get to help others and everybody will be home in time for a dinner with family. It makes you really appreciate what you have."
Caitlin Healy, standing left, and Stefan Van Wareren, standing center, of Bertucci's Italian Resturant cater to clients of the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry during Thanksgiving dinner at the resturant, in Danbury, on Thursday, Nov.26,2009. Seated from left are: Mariela Lunetta, Marcus Lunetta, 12, and Matthew Lunetta. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times
Healy, 24, was one of 18 Bertucci's workers who spent their morning and early afternoon in the Danbury restaurant on Newtown Road -- preparing, cooking, greeting and serving a four-course meals to those less fortunate.
Despite having three young children of his own, ages 4, 7 and 9, van Waveren Hogervorst and his wife spend the afternoon serving food to others.
This was the first time the company did anything like this, but if the event is a success, he said he wants to "see if we can do it in different areas as a yearly event."
The meal came at no cost -- to anyone.
All the food was donated by restaurant vendors and employees volunteered their time.
The meal consisted of rolls, antipasto, salad, turkey with stuffing, potatoes, string beans and cranberry sauce. For dessert, apple pie, pumpkin cheesecake and coffee was served.
Peter Brady, center, welcomes clients of his Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry to Thanksgiving dinner at Bertucci's Italian Resturant, in Danbury, on Thursday, Nov.26,2009. From left are: Christian Glover, 16, Bethany Lingl, 15, Hannah Lingl, 10, Peter Brady, Ethan Lingl, 7, Daniel Lingl, 5, Eileen and Robert Lingl. Photo: Michael Duffy / The News-Times
Peter Cohen, the manager in the Newtown Road location, volunteered his location, services and contacted Peter Brady, who he knew could help him find people who would like the meal.
Brady, known as the "Boss Man," began the Handy Dandy Handyman, a group of more than 1,000 people in the greater Danbury area that donate their time for "handyman'' chores at the homes of senior citizens, the handicapped, widows and widowers, divorced parents or limited-income families. Volunteers range from 10 to 85 years old.
Brady contacted local churches and social services agencies to find people who would take advantage of the opportunity. In total, 150 deserving people (the restaurant's capacity) were fed.
A single mother of two is getting help from the community to improve her family's living conditions, and the experience is so uplifting that she wants her family to continue to be involved "in the process" that improves people's lives.
The Brookfield family's home has been selected for a makeover, according to Peter Brady, the fellow resident who is organizing the annual project, which was first undertaken last year. Mr. Brady, who is retired from Nestles in New Milford, volunteers his time throughout the year through Handy Dandy Handyman (HDHM), an outreach ministry of his church, to do home repairs for people needing assistance.
(Boss Man Pete Brady paints the sky blue)
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. For example, more than 1,000 volunteers turn out in the fall for the annual Rake 'n' Bake project-the volunteers rake leaves and do general yard work and the householders bake something to share at the picnic at the conclusion of the work. And last year HDHM undertook its first home makeover, at a residence in New Milford.
"Donna was a Rake 'n' Bake client for four years, so we knew her house and the fact that it was in disrepair," said Mr. Brady in a recent interview. "It's more than she can do to take care of what it needs," he said.
She works five full days a week, and picks up extra time on weekends whenever possible, at Keogh's Paint & Hardware in Ridgefield. Her parents in Redding help her when the children-son Tre, 13, and daughter Lauryn, 9-get off the bus in Brookfield and take them to sports, religion classes and extracurricular events, and they also help out her only sister, who is blind and also diabetic so she is on dialysis three days a week. "On an everyday basis, they are a godsend," said Ms. Gause, who grew up in Redding and has been living in Brookfield about 11 years.
(John Mangold and Alan Smith, owner of Smith Brothers Construction Co. install one of 15 new windows)
Mr. Brady anticipated that the makeover project would kick off in March and be completed by May, but since the downturn in the economy has resulted in a lull in the construction business contractors who volunteer with HDHM said they were ready to tackle the renovation earlier.
"I was phenomenally surprised to find out that they were going to help us," said Donna Robinson Gause in an interview Wednesday. "We were very excited and very proud. It was more than I could do [in] cleaning up the property and fixing up the house."
The makeover, she added, is "definitely a boost to our morale as well as gives us, and each of us, a new beginning. It has in a lot of ways saved our quality of life, and especially for saving that for my children I am very, very grateful."
(Boss Man Pete Brady thanks Jim Beardsley, owner of Beardsley Plumbing Co. for all his efforts. Jim was one of 36 tradesmen who volunteered their time on this project)
The ambitious makeover project includes putting in a new roof, 14 new windows, and new gutters; replacing the deck; installing a new driveway, installing a new garage door; and landscaping-and that's just on the outside. Inside the Birch Road residence; it includes gutting and creating a totally new bathroom; remodeling the kitchen and renovating the three bedrooms, and refinishing the floors. Also, the house is being painted inside and out.
Tuesday was "the big day for the painters," working outside, Mr. Brady said, adding that while the labor that has gone toward the makeover is largely free, HDHM must pay for materials, although some costs are discounted.
As of this week, $5,000 is needed to complete the project. Anyone who would like to make a monetary donation, which is tax-deductible, to the makeover fund may send a check, made payable to HDHM Ministry, to Peter Brady, 26 Shamrock Drive, Brookfield, CT 06804. He asks that "home makeover" be indicated on the memo section of the check so that the money will go toward this project rather than any of the others the ministry has in the works.
(Joe Lasky, owner of Two Brothers Tree Service flying high in bucket truck removing 3 large trees from property while ground crew of volunteers pick up the pieces)
The contractors participating in the project are as follows: New Milford: Alterations Plus, John Kitchens; Bethel: Rings End Lumber, Dave Rohr; Phil LoPresti Carting Co., Phil LoPresti; Brookfield: Smith Brothers Construction Inc., Alan Smith; Fusco Landscaping, Shane Fusco; MRM Excavating Services, Mike Murphy; Saugatuck Forest Products, Derek Smith; Denna Computer Services, Nancy Lavoie; A&J Construction Paving, Ray Boa; Aiello Roofing Co., Kenny Aiello; Beardsley Plumbing, Jim Beardsley; Brookfield Overhead Door, Mark Hunihan; Random Tasks Co., Dan Melillo; GMH Construction, Glen Higgins; Vision Kitchens, Ron Masciarelli; Sunset Tree Service, Derrick Goodrow; Sherwin-Williams Paint, Ryan Andrews; Tom's Ornamental Iron Works, Thomas LaBarbera; GEM Snow Plowing, Jeff Moxham; Lew White Appliances, Rick Zucca; Brite Star Seamless Gutters, John Gereg IV; Broadmeyer Co., Mark Broadmeyer; Handyman Services, Peter McPadden; JMG Lawn Services, Joe Genovese; Two Brothers Tree Service, Joe Lasky; Bob's Discount Furniture, Bob; New England Party Rentals, Peter Muckell; Lakeview Home Repair, Brian Urso; Electrical Services, Dan Clarke; Carmel, N.Y.: CMC Bookkeeping, Cathy Colman; Danbury: EMA Electric LLC, Henry Augusewicz; Home Depot Store, John Surreira; Lowe's Store, Brett Weymouth; Redding: D. Smith Interior Designs, Donna Smith; Ridgefield: Keough's Paint & Hardware, Bill Keough; Growing Solutions, Chris Baliko; Monroe: Sippin Energy Products, Joe Rajcula; and Newtown: Red Baron Carpet, Bruce Bereton.
The Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry, which originated at St. Joseph Church in Brookfield, is now an established 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves more than 300 clients.
New deck completed compliments of Glenn Higgins, (Center) owner of GMH Construction Co. while volunteers Tom Mayer (left) and Matt DiCarlo (right) lend assistance
Mr. Brady, who is the recipient of local, regional and state awards for his volunteerism-including Brookfield Rotary Club's Volunteer of the Year and i95 Radio's Man of the Year awards in 2000; Gov. M. Jodi Rell's state Treasures Award in 2002; Regional YMCA's People of Distinction Award in 2003 and Volunteer of the Year in 2006; Knights of Columbus' Knight of Year in Connecticut in 2004; American Red Cross of Western Connecticut's Good Samaritan Award, United Way's Encouraging Community Service Involvement Award, and Rotary Foundation of Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow Award (for "service above self") in 2006.
Although he has been singled out for these awards, Mr. Brady stresses that "many hands" make the outreach projects a success. "When people hear about what we do, they often say, 'How can I help?' That's how we've grown, by word of mouth," he said.
"We love what we do, and we'll keep on doing it," the HDHM founder said in a previous interview, noting that the camaraderie the volunteers share lighten the burden of the work, whose completion is its own reward.
Ms. Gause said, "When Mr. Brady asked us for our help, we were happy to take direction from him. It was a great feeling to see all these people in the community come together to help us, and it's given us a new outlook. It's spiritually very uplifting. We're now part of something that's bigger than ourselves. We're part of this process, and I feel absolutely certain that we'll continue to be a part for a long, long time so that other people too can get the help they need."
The contractors participating in the project are as follows:
New Milford:
Alterations Plus, John Kitchens
Bethel: Rings End Lumber, Dave Rohr
Phil LoPresti Carting Co., Phil LoPresti
Brookfield:
Smith Brothers Construction Inc., Alan Smith
Fusco Landscaping, Shane Fusco
MRM Excavating Services, Mike Murphy
Saugatuck Forest Products, Derek Smith
Denna Computer Services, Nancy Lavoie
A&J Construction Paving, Ray Boa
Aiello Roofing Co., Kenny Aiello
Beardsley Plumbing, Jim Beardsley
Brookfield Overhead Door, Mark Hunihan
Random Tasks Co., Dan Melillo
GMH Construction, Glen Higgins
Vision Kitchens, Ron Masciarelli
Sunset Tree Service, Derrick Goodrow
Sherwin-Williams Paint, Ryan Andrews
Tom's Ornamental Iron Works, Thomas LaBarbera
GEM Snow Plowing, Jeff Moxham
Lew White Appliances, Rick Zucca
Brite Star Seamless Gutters, John Gereg IV
Broadmeyer Co., Mark Broadmeyer
Handyman Services, Peter McPadden
JMG Lawn Services, Joe Genovese
Two Brothers Tree Service, Joe Lasky
Bob's Discount Furniture, Bob
New England Party Rentals, Peter Muckell
Lakeview Home Repair, Brian Urso
Electrical Services, Dan Clarke
Carmel, N.Y.:
CMC Bookkeeping, Cathy Colman
Danbury:
EMA Electric LLC, Henry Augusewicz
Home Depot Store, John Surreira
Lowe's Store, Brett Weymouth
Redding:
D. Smith Interior Designs, Donna Smith
Ridgefield:
Keough's Paint & Hardware, Bill Keough
Growing Solutions, Chris Baliko
It won't be long now before a single working mother gets to put her head down in her newly refurbished home-a major, top to bottom, project undertaken by a local group dedicated to making life easier for those who need help.
Denise Gearin's home in New Milford was selected by the Brookfield-based Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry (HDHM) several months ago after it "missed" helping her out during its annual fall Rake 'n' Bake program, which marshals the services of more than a thousand volunteers to do some yardwork in several area towns.
"Instead, I ended up with a house makeover," Ms. Gearin, a former Brookfield resident, said, continuing to marvel at her good fortune.
"She really deserves this," Peter Brady, HDHM's founder, told The Journal in a previous interview, acknowledging that she certainly is doing what she can to help herself.
Ms. Gearin works five jobs, for, as she has said, "I'll even get another one if I have to, to keep this house." Her earnings go toward meeting basic expenses, and the pressure of taxes always looms large.
Now, however, she's in a different spot altogether, for many individuals, businesses and organizations have pitched in to help with the makeover.
Mr. Brady said in a previous interview that he always knows that he can get volunteers, but the main challenge on this project was obtaining enough money to pay for materials and supplies. His goal was to raise $10,000, and just last month, after falling short by about $3,000, he was approached by a parishioner, who chooses to remain anonymous. Mr. Brady said he was asked, 'What do you need?"-and he was then handed a check to make up the $3,000 difference.
Mr. Brady got another surprise last Saturday while working with his crew painting the interior of the River Road residence. He was approached by another individual bearing a check.
"I don't like to look at the amount because we're grateful. People give whatever they can," he said. The check was a big surprise to everyone-$10,000 from the Ellen Knowles Harcourt Foundation of New Milford.
"I just broke down and cried," said Ms. Gearin, who is divorced, as her family helped out the other volunteers at the site. "It's so awesome what he's done-that he found all these people to help us."
Mr. Brady noted that the fund-raising total came to $31,707 for the project, which includes $3,500 from the Albert W. & Helen C. Meserve Memorial Fund of Connecticut; $2,000 from the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation; and a total of $13,207 from 87 individual family donors.
The Gearins-who include daughter Elise and son Lance; Ms. Gearin's parents, Richard and Mary Dandanell of Brookfield; and siblings, including Ann Capossela of Brookfield, who had mentioned to Mr. Brady that her sister's place had missed out during the Rake 'n' Bake-have been helping out however they can.
A large part of their effort was emptying the interior so that renovations could proceed efficiently.
"I painted the trim and cooked for everybody Saturday," said Lance, adding, "This is awesome. Peter Brady is a great guy."
"He's someone who believes that people can help each other," said Ms. Gearin. "He lives his faith. That's an inspiration."
Fifty HDHM volunteers participated in the project.
The manual labor kicked off with the removal of several large trees and leaf cleanup on the grounds and demolition of a shed. A new roof was installed, plumbing was repaired and upgraded, concrete front steps were redone and a retaining wall was repaired. Major electrical repairs were made and a new washer, dryer, refrigerator and stove were installed. Last weekend, all seven rooms were painted. This week, the wood floors have been refurbished.
Rotten wood siding has been replaced to get the exterior ready for its repainting, which is scheduled to take place April 19.
In addition a new driveway will be laid, black wrought-iron handrails installed along the front steps, a new front lawn will be cultivated and seeded, and new overhead, double, electric garage door will be installed.
"I just want to get back into my house," said Ms. Gearin yesterday. "I can't wait. It's awesome. I don't know how I could ever thank everybody."
HDHM's supporters on the project-who have provided either supplies, services, materials or discounts on essentials-include Kenny Aiello of Aiello Roofing, Jim Beardsley of Beardsley Plumbing, Ray Boa of AJ Construction (driveway), John Pastor of All American Roll-Off, Gary Stein of Concrete Sawing Co., Joe Genovese of JMG Lawn Services, Thomas LaBarbera of Tom's Iron Works, Rick Zucca of Lew White Appliances and Mark Hunihan of Overhead Garage Door Co., all of Brookfield; Mike Loya of Rings End Lumber and Bob Tedrick (carpenter) of Bethel; Andrew Barboza of Loft Flooring Design, Sam Heelan of Iovino Brothers and Henry Augusewicz of EMA--Electric, all of Danbury; Bertucci's Restaurant (Peter Cohan) at Danbury I84 Exit 8; Bill Landgrebe of Timber Ridge Services, of Sandy Hook; Joe Lasky of Two Brothers Tree Service and Tom Meyer (carpenter) of Southbury; Bill Hunniford of American Pie Restaurant of Sherman; Cathy Colman of CMC Bookkeeping Co. of Carmel, N.Y.; Steve Greene of Steve Greene Painting Co. of Bridgewater; Chris Baliko of Growing Solutions of Ridgefield; and Rob Grenier of House Medic of New Milford.
Ms. Gearin's father summed up the family's appreciation:
"Is it great? It sure is. It's a fantastic thing to happen and a fantastic thing to watch, and I think it'll make a big difference. It's going to be a big relief to us, because we've been helping her with her utilities and taxes, and it's going to do a lot for her. She's more optimistic about life now. It's good to see her smile and to hear her laugh."
The New Milford family's home has been selected for a makeover, according to Peter Brady, the Brookfield resident who is organizing the project.
"I feel like I won the lottery," said Denise Gearin in an interview Wednesday. "And to me Peter Brady is an angel."
Mr. Brady, who retired several years ago from Nestles in New Milford, volunteers his time throughout the year through Handy Dandy Handyman (HDHM), an outreach ministry of his church, to do home repairs for people in need of 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. For example, more than 1,000 volunteers turned out in the fall and worked at 72 homes for the annual Rake 'n' Bake project-the volunteers rake leaves and do general yard work and the householders bake something to share at the picnic at the conclusion of the work.
"At the Rake 'n' Bake in November, one of the Brookfield volunteers told me about her sister, who lives in New Milford," Mr. Brady said this week. "It was too late for us to do anything then, but I went to see her place later. Well, it looked not so great, so I decided to do a home makeover. She deserves it. She's divorced and is working five jobs."
Ms. Gearin, who noted that she was divorced "seven or eight years ago," has two children. Her 23-year-old son lives with her, and her daughter, 21, lives in New Fairfield.
"There's been a lot of tough years," she said. "I've been really struggling because I don't want to lose the one thing we have, this house."
Ms. Gearin has been working five jobs "at various times" and is now "looking for another job to pay the taxes on the house."
She loads trucks at UPS in Brookfield, "which gives me my benefits," she said, as well as works at two restaurants, Italia Mia in New Milford and Tuscany in Bethel, teaches kickboxing at Double Dragon Dojo in New Milford, where she also takes and helps students with karate lessons, and works as a personal trainer from time to time.
"I feel blessed because I have my health and I've managed to keep the house," said Ms. Gearin, who was born in Stamford. Her family moved to Brookfield during her high school years, and she later lived in Danbury before moving to New Milford.
The ambitious makeover project includes putting a new roof and new gutters on the River Road residence; doing some carpentry, electrical and plumbing work; painting the house inside and out; refinishing the floors; installing a new garage door with electric opener; resurfacing the driveway; repairing the chimney and masonry wall; upgrading the kitchen and laundry appliances; and removing three large trees and lawn debris.
For Ms. Gearin, the excitement is already building.
"March 8 is the day that about 25 volunteers are going to come to the house for the painting, but a carpenter was already there yesterday, putting in a new door coming from the basement, and Mr. Brady and a 12-year-old boy took down a big tree," she said. "Mr. Brady has hundreds of volunteers of all ages, and it's great that the boy wanted to help out here instead of just spending his time playing video games or on the computer."
Ms. Gearin said she was also grateful to Lew White Appliances, which sent a washer and drier out to house over the holidays after an old appliance broke down.
"We'll have all the volunteers we need and have 10 contractors lined up already," said Mr. Brady, who also noted that carpentry work is already under way at the house and one of the large trees has been removed.
"Our volunteers can do the painting and tiling inside and paint outside, but we don't do blacktopping and can't do some of the other 'bigger' work," he said.
That's why the project needs financial assistance.
"I figure it's going to cost around $10,000 for the makeover," the organizer said.
Contractors have volunteered their time and expertise but not the materials needed for the project.
"We have the labor, we've got a discount on the appliances, but we have to pay for materials," said Mr. Brady, who hopes to be able to hand over a check to the family as well to provide an additional boost.
Anyone who would like to contribute to the makeover fund is asked to send a check, made payable to HDHM Ministry, to Peter Brady, 26 Shamrock Drive, Brookfield, CT 06804. He asks that "home makeover" be indicated on the memo section of the check so that the money will go toward this project rather than any of the others the ministry has in the works.
The Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry, which originated at St. Joseph Church in Brookfield, is now an established 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that serves more than 300 clients.
Mr. Brady, who is the recipient of local, regional and state awards for his volunteerism-including Brookfield Rotary Club's Volunteer of the Year and i95 Radio's Man of the Year awards in 2000; Gov. M. Jodi Rell's state Treasures Award in 2002; Regional YMCA's People of Distinction Award in 2003 and Volunteer of the Year in 2006; Knights of Columbus' Knight of Year in Connecticut in 2004; American Red Cross of Western Connecticut's Good Samaritan Award, United Way's Encouraging Community Service Involve-ment Award, and Rotary Foundation of Rotary International's Paul Harris Fellow Award (for "service above self") in 2006.
Although he has been singled out for these awards, Mr. Brady stresses that "many hands" make the ministry's projects a success. "When people hear about what we do, they often say, 'How can I help?' That's how we've grown, by word of mouth," he said.
"We love what we do, and we'll keep on doing it," the HDHM founder said in a previous interview, noting that the camaraderie the volunteers share lighten the burden of the work, whose completion is its own reward.
Volunteers needed for annual Rake 'N Bake
By Ethan Fry STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 10/31/2007 04:21:11 AM EDT
BROOKFIELD -- Peter Brady needs your help.
The Brookfield resident -- who since his retirement seven years ago has become the "Handy Dandy Handyman," serving the community's elderly, handicapped, destitute and out of work -- brought together over 1,000 volunteers from seven area towns and New York state last fall to help dozens of area residents with lawn cleanup and property maintenance.
This year, Brady said Tuesday, about 750 have signed up for the annual "Rake 'N Bake" event, and he needs more volunteers to ensure the program is able to serve as many properties as possible.
He urged those interested to go to his Web site, www.hdhm.org, to volunteer.
Now in its 10th year, the Rake 'N Bake slated for Nov. 10 is a far cry from its beginnings. "The first year, we had two clients and 10 volunteers, five of whom were my family and five were my daughter Robyn's friends from grade school," Brady said.
In recent years, hundreds of people from the area have turned out to help those less fortunate. "Once people do it, they love it and keep coming back," he said. "They love it and tell their friends."
Volunteers will gather in the gymnasium of Brookfield High School about 7:30 a.m. Nov. 10, where they will assemble in teams and say a prayer before leaving for properties in the region about 8:30, Brady said.
Teams of between three and 30, directed by captains, will rake leaves and perform property cleanup for clients. The clients, in turn, bring a dessert to the
high school at about 11 a.m. for a free lunch for the oft-hungry volunteers.
Last year's workers ate more than 1,500 hot dogs, Brady said, before digging into the desserts.
"It's a really, really good thing," Brady said about the fall event, which is particularly supported by local schools, churches and youth groups.
Brady said hundreds of students from Brookfield High School usually turn out, and groups from Immaculate, Newtown and New Milford schools also take part.
To volunteer, visit www.hdhm.org on the Internet and click on the link that says "Sign up for Rake 'N Bake 2007."
Peter Brady of the charity organization Handy Dandy Handyman stands among some of the donated items that will be featured in a silent auction to benefit the Dorothy Day Hospitality House and the Handy Dandy Handyman program.
Peter Brady, also known as the Handy Dandy Handyman of Brookfield, has set up his own version of a department store, with home furnishings, exercise equipment, appliances and an enormous amount of hardware in the Vision engineering building where he will be holding a silent auction/tag sale this weekend.
"This is unbelievable. Look at this," the Brookfield resident said, as he looked over all the items in the Commerce Road building which actually includes a kitchen sink.
The proceeds from the event will benefit both what he calls his handyman ministry and the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury. Brady started his a non-profit handyman organization in March 2000, just days after he retired from a long time position with Nestle.
The organization helps local residents in need, particularly the elderly, people with handicaps or health issues and widowed or single mothers. His group paints churches, does yard work, household repairs and even takes senior citizens to doctor's appointments.
The idea for the auction first took shape back in February, when a local resident who was moving out of state offered the entire contents of his home to Brady for charity. A week or two later, another family did the same thing.
Then Yates Hardware of Bethel closed its doors and offered Brady its remaining inventory. Brady said additional donations have trickled in from other area residents as well.
With the help of about 15 volunteers, Brady picked up all of the items and brought them to the warehouse. He also cleaned most of the sale and auction items and performed minor repairs to some things as well.
Although he did host an auction for charity once before, he held it on the front lawn of his house and it was much smaller in scope. This time, what started out as a few donations, has grown into a much larger event.
Brookfield resident and friend Rick Coyle has worked with Brady on past projects and originally offered the space to him for storage of the items. However, after seeing how many items Brady and his volunteers kept bringing in, Coyle realized that they may as well just have the auction in his company's warehouse rather than move everything again.
Coyle said the items from Brady's auction and tag sale are taking up about 4,000 of the available 27,000 square feet in the building. "Pete's been in here on a daily basis working on this," Coyle said.
Coyle said he was happy to help Brady in any way he could. "I got my first red shirt about 10 years ago. Everything you do with Peter is a feel good thing," Coyle said. Brady hands out red HDHM shirts to volunteers when they work on projects with him.
There are a wide variety of items up for silent auction, including adult and children's bicycles, bedroom and living room furniture sets and Ethan Allen dining room furniture, exercise equipment and televisions. More unusual items include a new wood fireplace mantle, air conditioners, an almost new 4 x 8 digital air hockey table, an antique cello, an organ, camera equipment and a red canoe with paddles. The hardware inventory, which takes up a room of its own, will be for sale at half off. Hardware items include everything from tools, nails, measuring tapes, and extension cords, to garden hoses, shovels, chainsaws, a snowblower and lawn mowers. Of course, there is that brand new kitchen sink, too.
Oxford resident Richard Sanislo will be on hand to volunteer this weekend and couldn't believe how the amount of inventory. "The hardware store is amazing," Sanislo said.
Sanislo, who is part of Brady's regular volunteer group known as "The Dream Team," has been working with Brady for five or six years and also designed all of the signs for the event.
"Working with Peter has been one of the most exhilarating and rewarding experiences of my life," Sanislo said.
Although Brady was thrilled to see all of the generous donations pouring in, he admits that he is ready to get back to his everyday work. "It's taken up a lot of my time, and I've had to forgo working for some of my clients, so I'm ready to get back to business," Brady said.
Brady's wife, Carol Ann, and their daughters, Kerri, Robyn and Ellen Brady-Cartwright, along with Ellen's husband David Cartwright, plan to work at the event. It is open to the public and there will be free hotdogs and refreshments for all who attend.
The Silent Auction/Tag Sale will be held inside the Vision Engineering Building at 101 Commerce Drive in Brookfield and takes place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Danbury Newstimes
Brookfield Bulletin Apr 10 2007 8:12 AM
Handy Dandy Handyman to hold silent auction
The Hand Dandy Handyman Ministry (HDHM), a nonprofit organization that helps local residents in need, will hold a silent auction May 6 and 7. Proceeds from the auction will be shared with the Dorothy Day Homeless Shelter and soup kitchen. Two local families donated the contents of their home to the event. Also, a local hardware store that recently closed its doors, donated all remaining inventory to the auction.
HDHM is still looking for donations, including clean, high quality items in good working order, such as home furnishings, electric power equipment, appliances, children's and adults bikes and lawn care machines. They will also accept items such as tickets to entertainment or sporting events and gift certificates to local restaurants and shops.
The auction will be held in the Vision Engineering Building at 101 Commerce Drive in Brookfield. Contact peter
Abbott Tech awards and scholarships Peter Brady Outstanding Community Service Award
Abbott Tech awards and scholarships
Michael Acocella — Outstanding Crafts Person in Graphic Communications
Jose Aguilar — Manufacturing Technology - Most Improved
Paul Albanesi — Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship for Overall Excellence
Michael Arnold — Outstanding Graphic Communications Student
April Bendlin — Connecticut Career Certificate; Mary Wooster Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Citizenship Award; Outstanding in Math; Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship for Overall Excellence; P.F.O. Alumni Good Fellowship Award; Outstanding in Skill for Culinary Arts; Student of the Month Award.
Charlie Boyd — Carpentry Instructor's Award
Steven Bowers — Connecticut Career Certificate
Noelle Capichiano — Culinary Arts Most Improved
Khaliah Carr — Hord Foundation Scholarship Award; Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship for Overall Excellence; Women's Club of Danbury-New Fairfield Scholarship Award; Connecticut Career Certificate
Eric Coons — Manufacturing Technology Most Improved
Tia Council — Most Improved in Hairdressing, Cosmetology and Barbering
Randy Checo — Peter Casolino Memorial Athletic Achievement Award
Anthony Chim — Ferdinand Bedini Drafting Technology Award
Gustavo DeSousa — Daniel A. Garamella Scholarship Award; Distinguished Athletic Award; Connecticut Association of Schools Superintendent Award Most Improved in Plumbing and Heating.
Giovanni Dillard — Hord Foundation Scholarship Award
Jason Dalton — Leo Santos Memorial Scholarship Electrical Award
Diana DiPalma — Drafting Technologies John Tobits Award
Elizabeth Dilorio — Kiwanis Award for the Student who has done the most for the school; Reidar and Doris Jespersen Scholarship Award For Overall Excellence; Hairdressing Cosmetology and Barbering Integrity Award
Azura Erhardt — Clayton McGran Athletic Achievement; Sharp Memorial Scholarship; Distinguished Athlete Award; Hairdressing Cosmetology and Barbering Perseverance Award.
Steven Eyth — William Barrett Memorial Scholarship, Connecticut Career Certificate
Alishia Esposito — Danbury Cultural Commission Excellence Award; Women's Club of Danbury-New Fairfield Scholarship Award; Diane Mouzakis Scholarship Award; Hairdressing Cosmetology and Barbering Most Professional Award and Outstanding Assistant Award; Connecticut Career Certificate
Alan Falls — HVAC Award for Outstanding Craftsman
Jeffrey Fulton — Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship Award for Excellence In Trade; Connecticut Career Certificate
Debora Goncalves — Outstanding in Science, Citizenship Scholarship; Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship for Overall Excellence; Rotary Club of Danbury Technical Scholarship; Iona College Scholarship; Leonhardt Scholarship; P.F.O. Outstanding Craftsperson, Outstanding in Drafting Technology; Berkley College Presidential Scholarship
William Grosse, Jr. — Manufacturing Technology Best All Around Craftsman
Alex Groski — Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship Award for Excellence in Trade; Sharp Memorial Scholarship
Steve Gutierrez — Manufacturing Technology Joseph Hawley Award - Most Creative, Most Improved Manufacturing Technician
Barry Hart — Danbury Lions Club Sportsmanship and Outstanding Athlete Award; Charles A. Gorman Leadership Award; HV AC Individual Achievement; Distinguished Athlete Award
Eric Hyde — Manufacturing Technology Most Improved
Ryan Heneghan — Outstanding in Carpentry
Courtney Kelly — Danbury Old Timer's Athletic Association Scholarship Award; Danbury Health Care Scholarship Award; Reidar and Doris J. Jespersen Scholarship Award for Excellence; Henry Abbott Student of the Year Award; C.IA.C. Fine Arts Award; Hairdressing Cosmetology and Barbering Most Creative Award; Thrift Mart Scholarship of New Milford
Joseph Kyek — William Pitt International Realty Community Service Scholarship Award - Henry Abbott Tech Alumni Association Scholarship Award; Peter Brady Outstanding Community Service Award; Manufacturing Technology Outstanding CNC Technician and Best All Around Craftsman
Walter Lemet II — Manufacturing Technology Most Improved CNC Technician
Kimberly Lockwood — Rotary Club of Danbury Dr. Harold B. Knapp Scholarship Award
Luis Macancela — Walter Kopsick Memorial Personal Achievement Award; University of New Haven Scholarship; Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship for Excellence in Trade;
Student of the Month Award
Jason Martins — James H. Wild Electrical Award
Gabrielle Mead — Outstanding in Foreign Language
Ryan Meza - Santoyo — Peer Mediator Medal
Marlon Miotto — Connecticut Association of Schools Superintendent's Award; Judge Julius W. Frankel & Rosebud Samuelson Frankel Scholarship award; Drafting Technologies Most Improved Craftsperson
Kenneth Morning — Student of the Month Award, Collision and Refinishing Instructor's Award
Andrew Mota — Collision and Refinishing Instructor's Award; Connecticut Career Certificate
Tim Nieman — Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Outstanding Contribution to Shop; Student of the Month Award
Sean Papps — Outstanding in Electronics, Air National Guard Achievement Award; Reidar and Doris Jespersen Scholarship for Overall Excellence; Outstanding Attendance
Hugo Ramalho — Manufacturing Technology Joseph Hawley Award - Most Creative; Student of the Month Award .
Travis Reeves — Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship Award for Excellence in Trade; Reider and Doris J. Jespersen Scholarship for Overall Excellence; Outstanding in English Scholastic Excellence Award; Connecticut Career Certificate
Louis Resendes — Outstanding Senior In Plumbing
Desi Ruiz — Most Improved Student in Graphic Communications
Jason Sabio — Automotive Individual Instructor's Award
John Saltarelli III — Morgan David McBrearity Memorial Scholarship Award; James H. Wild Leadership Award; Manufacturing Technology Outstanding Craftsperson Outstanding CNC Technician
Clay Sanchez — Manufacturing Technology Most Improved
Benjamin Scharf —Outstanding In Trade and Academics; Reider and Doris J. Jespersen Scholarship for Overall Excellence; Manufacturing Technology Outstanding Craftsperson; Connecticut Career Certificate
Edward Simao — C.IA.C. Scholar Athlete Award; Personal Achievement in Carpentry; Connecticut Career Certificate
Sean Simonsen — Most Improved Electrical Student
Ryan Smith — Automotive Technology Award for Outstanding Technician
Scott Smith — Alfred J. Severblade Memorial Scholarship Award.
Ramon Soto — Kenneth A. Michael Scholarship Award for Overall Excellence, Collision and Refinishing Skills U.S.A. Scholarship
Lauren Sproule — John A. Robinson P.F.O. Valedictorian Award; Outstanding in Social Studies; Reidar and Doris J. Jespersen Scholarship for Overall Excellence; C.I.A.C. Fine Arts Award; Scholastic Excellence Award; Culinary Arts Outstanding Achievement in Theory; Student of the Month Award
Zachary Stebbins — P.F.O. LeGrand Cole Citizenship Award; Henry Abbott Tech Alumni Association Award; Reidar and Doris Jespersen Scholarship for Overall Excellence; Manufacturing Technology Best All Around Craftsman and Outstanding CNC Technician; Peer Mediator Medal; Student of the Month Award
Wanda Sotelo — Peer Mediator Medal
Madison Stenabaugh — Manufacturing Technology Most Improved CNC Technician
Caroline Traino — D.S.A.B.C Mentor Scholarship Award
By Dale Skaggs
Red Cross Disaster Services Volunteer
What can you do with a step-ladder, a paint brush and bucket, an old rag and a smile? You can join Peter Brady and 224 other volunteers who will spend a day working hard, having fun, and feeling good about accomplishing something important. Oh, and by the way, you'll paint a house or two. That is just an outline of Brady's latest project, an effort to recruit 75 people from each of three area churches to paint several low income senior housing buildings in Danbury's Memorial Park neighborhood, as part of the Greater Danbury ShareFest, a mobilization of area churches to help those in need.
Volunteer advocate Peter "Brady shows off his Handy Dandy Handyman tee-shirt worn by hundreds who have helped on the many projects he's initiated.
As the founder and president of the non-profit organization Handy Dandy Handyman, this is exactly the sort of project Brady knows well. Organizing 224 volunteers to paint several structures for senior citizens, or even more volunteers to paint the outside of a church, is not unusual for this retired Director of Purchasing for Nestle USA, who was inspired by a 1999 homily at his parish church to dedicate the skills developed over a 38 year career to serving the needy in his community. When he heard that call back in 1999, he was still working for Nestle USA, so the first year was• one of small jobs, like raking leaves, done on weekends for just a couple of clients, by only ten volunteers, five of whom were Brady, his wife Carol Ann, and their three daughters. Retirement, in February of 2000, greatly expanded the time available to clean basements, attics and yards, do odd jobs and make minor home repairs for the elderly, single moms, unemployed, disabled or bereaved, anyone who needed that kind of help. Begun as a ministry grounded in the spiritual and financial support of Brookfield's Saint Joseph Parish, in just over three years the operation had grown so much that it was established as a separate non-profit company. Today the organization's volunteer base is over 900 and the number of clients' served is over 250. Last November's Rake-N-Bake, an annual leaf cleanup event, saw over 800 volunteers rake leaves for 56 homeowners unable to handle the task themselves.
Asked if he was always a handyman, Brady smiles and says, "Not really, I was one of seven children, so we had to help out, but I didn't really have lots of those kinds of skills. I just knew I wanted to use what I did have, good health, financial stability, and skills in communications, organization and motivation, to help those who needed it." So how did a resolution to rake some leaves and clean out a garage for some neighbors in need turn into an organization with 900 volunteers serving hundreds of clients every year? According to Brady, it's important that the work requirements are clearly organized and communicated and that the volunteers get positive feedback about how their efforts helped. As a result, the volunteers have fun because it feels good to help others. "We work hard," he says, "But we always laugh and have a good time too." Then he grinned and revealed another motivational secret: "I also give away a red Handy Dandy Handyman sweatshirt every year to our 'Most Valuable Volunteer' and people really want to win that sweatshirt!"
Brady's volunteer work at the Dorothy Day homeless shelter gave rise to another facet of the Handy Dandy Handyman operation. The shelter needed a couple of recliner chairs for volunteer staff, so he found someone with used chairs and arranged for their donation to the shelter. "That experience," he said, "made me wonder if there might' be a way to match up people who have stuff they don't need, with people who need it." Thus was born 'Pete's Repeats', a feature on Brady's website which posts items available from donors, as well as specific items needed by clients.
Peter Brady retired at the age of 58, and has since found countless ways to keep busy doing work that is very important, not only to his clients, but to his fellow volunteers and to the entire community.
(Handy Dandy Handyman is on the web at http://www.hdhm.org. Email Peter Brady at peterbrady@hdhm.org. The Greater Danbury ShareFest is scheduled for May 6 and 7, 2006.)
Apr 11 2006 8:14 AM 'Unsung heroes' United Way to honor three with service awards By Brian Saxton THE NEWS-TIMES
The News-Times/Michael Duffy
Peter Brady, foreground, paints with volunteer Burk Aikman.
DANBURY — Peter Brady was inspired to help the community after listening to his local pastor's sermon on the good works of St. Peter.
Celia Bacelar has spent the last eight years helping her fellow countrymen from Brazil build a cultural bridge with the American community in greater Danbury and to improve their own lives.
John Patrick opted to use his Internet experience to assist nonprofit groups develop and strengthen their humanitarian and cultural programs.
In Danbury tonight, the United Way of Northern Fairfield County will honor them as recipients of this year's community service awards.
"These three individuals volunteer, advocate and donate a large share of their expertise to make our community a better place in which to live," United Way president June Renzulli said Monday. "They really represent the best in all of us."
Peter Brady
The News-Times/Wendy Carlson
John Patrick of Ridgefield will receive an award for his volunteer service.
The Encouraging Community Involvement Award.
Peter Brady, 64, who lives in Brookfield, was already helping people less fortunate than himself when he retired in 2000 after a 38-year career with Nestle USA. The seed was planted in 1999 during a Sunday morning sermon by the Rev. Larry Carroll at St. Joseph Church, Brookfield, that extolled the good deeds of St. Peter.
"That's when I got the idea of volunteering to be a handyman for those in the parish needing help but (who) couldn't afford it," Brady said Monday. "I wanted to help people who were seniors, widowed, divorced, handicapped or unemployed."
Brady started with a handful of weekend projects such as home repairs, cleaning yards and attics, and other basic jobs. Working alongside him were 10 other volunteers, including his wife, Carol Ann, and their three grown daughters, Kerri, 35, Ellen, 34 and Robyn, 24
News-Times file photo
Celia Bacelar has done everything from creating an education center to founding a bilingual newspaper.
By 2003, Brady's program, known as the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry, had grown so large he applied for state non-profit status to allow for greater financial support from banks, businesses and private donations.
Today, with an annual budget of $35,000, Brady is able to call on more than 900 volunteers in eight area towns. His services for those in need are still free and all the materials needed for the repairs and renovations are provided at no cost to the client.
"No one gets paid, but everyone feels good after a day's work," said Brady.
This winter, Brady rallied support for goods and financial gifts for the food bank in New Milford. He coordinated donations from 2,000 people and raised $2,740 for the pantries in New Milford and Danbury.
"I started all this because I wanted to give something back to the Lord," said Brady. "I knew he had already given me a great family, health, energy and financial stability. It's very satisfying to help people who cannot do things for themselves."
Celia Bacelar
The Forrest C. Palmer Community Service Award.
In the eight years since Celia Bacelar first began focusing on the social and cultural issues facing greater Danbury's Portuguese-speaking community, the 46-year-old Brazilian businesswoman has done everything from creating an education center for them to founding a bilingual newspaper.
"She has played a leading role in forging a cultural bridge between the Brazilian and American communities within the greater Danbury area," said Kim Morgan, United Way's director of marketing and communications.
Morgan said Bacelar's tireless fundraising efforts have generated nearly $30,000 for the AmeriCares free medical clinics in Danbury and Bridgeport.
Bacelar, who once owned a travel agency and photographic studio in Brazil, emigrated to the United States in 1995 and settled in Danbury.
Three years later, she founded the Center for Brazilian Assistance in Danbury, a service that provides free English language instruction and community-focused seminars for the area's Portuguese population.
"A lot of people did not understand my intentions, but I wanted to be a role model. I wanted to help people have their dignity and be able to help themselves," Bacelar said Monday.
Among other programs, the center helped educate people to avoid businesses in the city that were reportedly exploiting Brazilians by charging them fees for filing government documents.
Bacelar's programs included arranging seminars with the Danbury police department to create better channels of communication and understanding. A similar program was arranged with the police department in Bridgeport.
Bacelar went another step farther in 2000 when she founded the Tribuna, a Danbury-based newspaper written in English and Portuguese. It is now the biggest Brazilian publication of its kind in Connecticut.
"I wanted to build a bridge between the two cultures and reach out with my message," said Bacelar. "I thought the Brazilian community was very isolated at the time and Brazilian businesses were not recognized as part of the community.
"I think the newspaper has helped to build this bridge."
John Patrick
The Peter T. White Volunteer Service Award
Internet whiz John Patrick, a former vice president of Internet technology at IBM, believes his interest in volunteerism is genetic.
"My father was involved with just about every non-profit group in Salem, N.J., when I was growing up," Patrick, 60, said Monday. "So was his father and his grandfather."
Patrick, who has lived with his family in Ridgefield since 1981, worked for IBM for 38 years and said the corporation always encouraged community involvement among its employees.
"They considered it part of their experience," said Patrick. "My experience became the Internet."
Network World magazine named Patrick one of the 25 most powerful people in business networking and he now serves on the board of several national corporations as well as running his own Internet company.
He serves on the board of Danbury Health Systems Inc. and Danbury Hospital, and is the founding president of Housatonic Habitat for Humanity.
He has also been providing pro bono consulting to a number of non-profit groups in Danbury and Ridgefield.
"I don't think of myself as a consultant," said Patrick. "I'm really just one of many people who give their time and experience to others. Many people donate money to non-profit groups. I think the gifts of time and experience are even more valuable."
As an example, Patrick cited the many professionals who serve on committees at Danbury Hospital and volunteer their expertise.
"These are the unsung heroes," said Patrick. "They include people such as lawyers, doctors and bankers. In terms of this award I am getting, I accept it on behalf of the large number of people who do what I do."
Firefighters honored for saving life
By Robin DeMerell THE NEWS-TIMES
From left, Jeff Tomchik, Shari Hernly and Bernie Meehan were honored by the American Red Cross for saving the life of a Danbury man last April.
As a firefighter for the city, Bernie Meehan's first priority is helping others. He doesn't expect recognition or even kudos for a job well done. For him the satisfaction is knowing he's helped someone.
On April 6, Meehan and two other city firefighters, Jeff Tomchik and Shari Hernly, will be presented with an award by the local American Red Cross for saving the life of a Danbury man. Meehan said he's just glad that the teamwork is being recognized.
"No emergency responder does this to receive awards, and you get kidded pretty good about it by your colleagues," Meehan, 44, said. "This is nice. It honors the team effort. It's not any individual action."
But he said it's important for the community to recognize their services — that there people out there willing and able to save lives whenever they can.
"Someone on the outside is looking in," Meehan said. "Somebody from the outside sees the efforts we do."
Meehan has been with the department for 21 years and in February was promoted to the position of captain.
Tomchik, a firefighter with the department for three years, said he was surprised by the award.
"I was taken aback," Tomchik said. "We were just doing what we do every day."
But he said after call after call after call, he said sometimes he's not sure the community recognizes the efforts made by firefighters.
"It was a feeling of appreciation I had for the community recognizing that we're here and doing our job — it was a good feeling," Tomchik said. "When something like this happens, you feel your worth."
The three rescuers are receiving the award is for saving a man who had an allergic reaction to a bee sting last August. Meehan was on the call with firefighters Hernly and Tomchik at the King Street fire station when city resident John Durso was stung by a white-faced hornet. He had only minutes to live.
"We got a call that someone wasn't breathing," Meehan said.
When they got there, Meehan said Durso's wife and two toddlers were watching over him.
The 43-year-old Danbury man had gone into anaphylactic shock. His pulse had dropped to 60 and his airway was completely closed. Firefighters administered Epinephrine, a medicine that counteracts an allergic response, and an IV.
"Our first response was what turned the tide on this guy," Meehan said. "If you're not breathing, you typically have six minutes before brain damage occurs."
Durso was taken to the hospital by ambulance and made a complete recovery — the only satisfaction Meehan needed.
"It's strange, but it's our job. That's why we're there," he said. "The benefit is someone gets to see their kids graduate from school — they get their future. The success is doing your job and seeing someone get a second chance at life."
Red Cross spokeswoman Gail Meehan said the organization was "very impressed with the the response time and teamwork."
"They took everything under control and stabilized the situation and saved a life," said Meehan, no relation to Bernie Meehan.
The Emergency Response for the Professional Responder Award will be presented by the local Red Cross chapter at 7:30 a.m. at its 16th annual breakfast at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. Also receiving a variety of awards for acts heroism, courage and kindness are Newtown teacher Jason Christian; Joey Kyck, Peter Brady and Angela Haselwood, all of Brookfield; William von Zehle of Ridgefield; Karlyn Sturmer of Sandy Hook; Dianne Yamin of Danbury, and Kieran O'Brien of New Fairifield.
Tickets to the breakfast are $25 per person and are available by calling the American Red Cross at (203) 792-8200.
Peter Brady, left, hands boxes of nonperishable foods to volunteers as they unload two trucks full of donations for the New Milford food pantry.
Donations to food pantries often dwindle after the holidays.
Last month, New Milford's food pantry was nearly empty.
Peg Molina, New Milford's director of social services, estimated the pantry cupboard would be bare within three weeks. The pantry delivers a bag of groceries to 90 families each week.
She asked Peter Brady of Brookfield for help.
Brady sent an e-mail to the 1,610 members of his Handy Dandy Handyman network, seeking donations of food.
Fast forward to Valentine's Day.
Brady and 11 volunteers loaded what they collected into two trucks loaned by the Gulf station at Four Corners and headed to New Milford.
There, Bridgewater's Steve Greene and Brookfield residents Bob Elston, Chris Bader, Mike Stankiewiicz, Burt Aikman, Mike Mancusi, Billy Manton, Eric Riddle, Dave Riddle, Richard Sanislo and Brady became an efficient assembly line, carting food to the second floor of the Social Services building on hand carts loaned by Home Depot.
Longtime pantry volunteers Pat Reise and Monica Nyary were astounded by the amount of food.
"I have never seen it this full before," Reise said as she stocked and organized cans of soup, juices, pasta, sauces, fruit, cereal, and peanut butter and jelly in the pantry.
When Molina asked Brady for donations, Brady set a goal of 100 40-pound boxes of food, and set out 100 empty boxes in his garage, which he dubbed the Food Receiving Depot.
He offered to shop for those who wanted to donate, but did not have time to shop.
People dropped by daily with donations – some 2,000 people – and at the end of three weeks, Brady's garage held 507 40-pound boxes of nonperishables.
Cash donations from 56 people totaled $2,740.
Richard Sanislo, who met Brady in 2002 and has volunteered for past Handy Dandy Handyman projects, was astonished by the outpouring.
"I walked into Pete's garage and my jaw dropped when I saw all the food," Sanislo said.
Brady said donations came from individuals and groups, including local high schools, elementary schools, five Scout troops, eight church congregations, and a number of local small businesses and larger corporations.
One-hundred-seventy-two cases of food were donated by Cendant Mobility in Danbury, 68 boxes by the Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, and 42 by the Mako swim team at the YMCA in Brookfield.
Clayton's Mercantile Supply in New Milford donated more than 500 boxes for packing food, along with three pallets of food, which will be delivered to the pantry when needed.
There was so much food – more than 10 tons – a total of 20,280 pounds – that some was sent to the New Milford Methodist Church, an adjunct of the food pantry. The church will store it until it is needed.
Brady also gave Molina a check for $2,000.
Because Barbara DeAnzeris, coordinator of the Danbury soup kitchen, told Brady it also needed help, he donated the remaining $740.
Donations to New Milford's pantry keep arriving. "We have had people coming in almost every day to drop stuff off," Molina said. "Many of them have heard through Peter's organization and others through another e-mail that I sent out to the New Milford community."
"I couldn't believe it. This is just an awesome event," she added, calling the food drive "the hugest in our history."
Molina was particularly pleased to see so many people from different towns reach out to help.
"We are all one community – this food drive has surely shown us that," Molina said.
New Milford Food Drive News Times Article 02/07/06
Brookfield helps to stock New Milford food pantry
By Angie Jeffrey
NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Photo by Autumn Pinette
Members of the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry of Brookfield, from left, Peter Brady, Eric Riddle, Steve Green and Burt Aikman, collected more than 100 boxes of donated food items to help replenish New Milford‘s townwide food pantry.
When Peg Molina saw New Milford's cupboard getting bare, she turned to Brookfield's Peter Brady.
As director of social services in New Milford, Molina is in charge of its food pantry, which helps feed 80 to 90 families a week.
Brady, the founder of Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry, was glad to help replenish its shelves. He sent out a mass e-mail to everyone in his network — more than 1,600 volunteers — asking for help.
"On Feb. 3, they may have to close the food pantry due to lack of food for very needy clients in her community," Brady told them.
He immediately set a goal of 100 cases of food, which he estimates will be enough to keep the doors of pantry open through April. He offered his garage as a food receiving depot.
According to Molina, social services director since June 2002, the food shortage comes and goes.
"It is typically into mid-February and March that donations begin to dwindle, and January is always a tough month for many of our clients," she said.
Seventy-five percent of the clients have jobs; most are families with children. Others are disabled or elderly people living on Social Security checks.
As supplies dwindled, Molina sent an e-mail to many New Milford town workers and local organizations.
"I had heard of (Brady) in the past," Molina said, "but it was my administrative assistant (Angie Santana) who first thought of Pete."
"We have had a lovely response from everyone so far. Every day people walk in with food for us. We will just store it all in our closet and use it as needed."
In addition to individual donations, Brady has appealed to church and youth groups, scout troops, high school athletic teams and other student groups to help New Milford's needy. He is confident they will exceed their goal.
Brady and a team of volunteers will wear their signature red HDHM shirts when they drop off the food donations to Molina on Monday.
One enterprising young Girl Scout sent Brady an e-mail asking him to consider her plan.
She suggested if Brady encouraged everyone to buy all of her Girl Scout cookies, he would not only meet his goal of providing 100 boxes of food, he would be helping the people at the food pantry meet their goal and, of course, she would meet her cookie sales goal, as well.
"All of the donors could receive a tax-deductible receipt to help reach their own goals, too. So you see, Mr. Brady, it's a win-win-win-win situation. What do you think?" she wrote.
"Our future president of the United States," Brady joked.
If Brady delivers as much food as he expects, Molina said the pantry should be good until the annual fundraiser Walk-a-Mile for a Meal in April.
"It will tide us over very nicely. One of the most delightful things about this has been the fact that so many people from other towns have been so helpful to us.
"People are working as one community — it's just great," Molina said.
Brady also has been thrilled with the response. Collecting the donations has been a full-time job these past few weeks.
"It is beyond my comprehension. I am a religious person and I believe what is happening is the work of God. It is in his hands — I am just his employee."
The food pantry needs non-perishable items such as peanut butter and jelly, cereal, pasta and sauce, macaroni and cheese, children's juices, canned soup and tuna. To donate, call Peter Brady at (203) 740-1243.
Brookfield helps to stock New Milford food pantry
By Angie Jeffrey
NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Autumn Pinette
Members of the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry of Brookfield, from left, Peter Brady, Eric Riddle, Steve Green and Burt Aikman, collected more than 100 boxes of donated food items to help replenish New Milford‘s townwide food pantry.
When Peg Molina saw New Milford's cupboard getting bare, she turned to Brookfield's Peter Brady.
As director of social services in New Milford, Molina is in charge of its food pantry, which helps feed 80 to 90 families a week.
Brady, the founder of Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry, was glad to help replenish its shelves. He sent out a mass e-mail to everyone in his network — more than 1,600 volunteers — asking for help.
"On Feb. 3, they may have to close the food pantry due to lack of food for very needy clients in her community," Brady told them.
He immediately set a goal of 100 cases of food, which he estimates will be enough to keep the doors of pantry open through April. He offered his garage as a food receiving depot.
According to Molina, social services director since June 2002, the food shortage comes and goes.
"It is typically into mid-February and March that donations begin to dwindle, and January is always a tough month for many of our clients," she said.
Seventy-five percent of the clients have jobs; most are families with children. Others are disabled or elderly people living on Social Security checks.
As supplies dwindled, Molina sent an e-mail to many New Milford town workers and local organizations.
"I had heard of (Brady) in the past," Molina said, "but it was my administrative assistant (Angie Santana) who first thought of Pete."
"We have had a lovely response from everyone so far. Every day people walk in with food for us. We will just store it all in our closet and use it as needed."
In addition to individual donations, Brady has appealed to church and youth groups, scout troops, high school athletic teams and other student groups to help New Milford's needy. He is confident they will exceed their goal.
Brady and a team of volunteers will wear their signature red HDHM shirts when they drop off the food donations to Molina on Monday.
One enterprising young Girl Scout sent Brady an e-mail asking him to consider her plan.
She suggested if Brady encouraged everyone to buy all of her Girl Scout cookies, he would not only meet his goal of providing 100 boxes of food, he would be helping the people at the food pantry meet their goal and, of course, she would meet her cookie sales goal, as well.
"All of the donors could receive a tax-deductible receipt to help reach their own goals, too. So you see, Mr. Brady, it's a win-win-win-win situation. What do you think?" she wrote.
"Our future president of the United States," Brady joked.
If Brady delivers as much food as he expects, Molina said the pantry should be good until the annual fundraiser Walk-a-Mile for a Meal in April.
"It will tide us over very nicely. One of the most delightful things about this has been the fact that so many people from other towns have been so helpful to us.
"People are working as one community — it's just great," Molina said.
Brady also has been thrilled with the response. Collecting the donations has been a full-time job these past few weeks.
"It is beyond my comprehension. I am a religious person and I believe what is happening is the work of God. It is in his hands — I am just his employee."
The food pantry needs non-perishable items such as peanut butter and jelly, cereal, pasta and sauce, macaroni and cheese, children's juices, canned soup and tuna. To donate, call Peter Brady at (203) 740-1243.
D.J. Christy, 13, Alexandra Willey, 11, Danielle Keeton, 12, and Rose Willey, 13, all of Brookfield, rake leaves as part of the Rake N Bake on Nov. 12.
When Rake N Bake began in 1998, it consisted of Brookfield resident Peter Brady, his wife Carol Ann, their three daughters — Kerri, Ellen and Robyn — and five other volunteers.
The Bradys wanted to help some local senior citizens with their fall cleanup, so the small group raked leaves for two parishioners from St. Joseph's Church and afterward went to a pizza parlor for a celebratory lunch.
Nearly eight years later, not only is Rake N Bake still going strong, it has grown by leaps and bounds. Brady, aka The Handy Dandy Handyman (HDHM), and his family were joined Sunday by nearly 800 other volunteers and raked leaves for 56 people, from Brookfield, Danbury, Bridgewater and New Milford.
Volunteers clad in red T-shirts gathered at 8 a.m. in the Brookfield High School gym, where Brady led the group in a prayer. Participants then broke off into teams and headed to their designated houses.
The majority of clients who receive the cleanup services are senior citizens or people who have handicaps, are widowed, sick or just down on their luck and in need of a little help.
Volunteers this year included two youth groups, nine athletic teams from BHS, five church groups, seven scout troops and three neighborhood groups.
There were also 35 people from Cendant Mobility, and a number of individual volunteers who pitched in to help. New Milford resident Susan Slink and her son, Jay, 17, volunteered for the first time this year.
Slink's group consisted of 20 people who covered five acres of land at one house. "We helped a very nice older gentleman, and when we left he thanked us and we all took a picture together. He was really grateful," Slink said.
Norma Fogarty, a 79-year-old retired nurse who has trouble walking, had the yard of her Brookfield home cleaned up for the third year in a row. "They did a wonderful job and it's such a nice service for the community," Fogarty said.
Jacquelyn Letizia, 10, Meghan Letizia, 8, and Molly Russo, 8, who are neighbors, were three of the volunteers who worked on Fogarty's house. This was their first Rake N Bake, but all three say they will do it again next year.
"It was really fun helping people out," Meghan said.
"Plus, we got to throw leaves at each other and ride in the tarp around the yard," Molly said.
The majority of the volunteers returned to the high school between 11 a.m. and noon for a free lunch of hot dogs and drinks courtesy of Brady's brother, Bill, who owns Doc's Dogs hot dog cart. Brookfield resident Bob Elston also supplied hot dogs for many of the volunteers.
All of the clients whose homes are cleaned make baked goods for the volunteers and take them to the school, where everyone mingles.
Rosemarie and Frank Corbin had their yard cleaned for the seventh year in a row. "My husband had been sick at the time I first started, and they did such a wonderful job for us.
"What's great is seeing husbands and wives and their children working together and everyone just working together as a community," Rosemarie Corbin said.
Thirteen-year-old Nicole Bullard, a Girl Scout from Danbury, came with Troops 307 and 622 and helped out for the second year in a row.
"It was a great experience to help people with their yards who aren't able to do it themselves, and working with all of these different people in the community was really nice, too," Bullard said.
Brady's HDHM Ministry handed out two awards at the end of the day for the Most Valuable Volunteer of the year. Bridgewater resident Steve Greene and Brookfield resident Chris Bader were the recipients of those awards.
Brady was thrilled with the outcome of the event, calling it "One of the most successful community-service events in Connecticut history."
"Look at this — isn't this amazing?" he said, gesturing to the sea of red shirts that filled the BHS gym after the raking. "What a day!"
A donor, an auction = the joy of helping
By Angie Jeffrey
NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
The News-Times/Michael Duffy
Peter Brady talks with Paul and Debbie Fenwick of Brookfield at an auction to benefit Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry and Hurricane Katrina victims.
A former Danbury resident brought happiness to a group of bidders Saturday, while raising money for Brookfield's Handy Dandy Handy Man ministry, and the Red Cross and Salvation Army.
The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, decided to donate the contents of a unit he owned at Crystal Bay Condominiums to a local charitable cause.
He mentioned the idea to his friends and neighbors George and Judy Johnson.
"He had just taken a new job out in the Midwest and wanted to give away all of the brand-new furniture," said George Johnson, who immediately suggested his friend Peter Brady.
The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, chose Brady's HDHM organization to receive the furniture.
"I went over there to take a look at everything, and I couldn't believe it," Brady said. "There were over 30 items and each is the most top-of-the-line quality I have ever seen."
The furnishings, from stores such as Crate and Barrel and Ethan Allen, were worth between $35,000 and $40,000.
With the help of 12 volunteers, Brady moved the contents of the condominium to his own home in Brookfield, where Saturday he held a silent auction for members and friends of the HDHM ministry.
The bidding for each item started at 10 percent of its original cost. The dining room furniture, purchased for $15,000, started with a $1,500 bid.
There was also bedroom furniture, a marble-top desk, artwork, lamps, and an $8,000 armoire.
"Originally when this gentleman gave me the furniture, the proceeds were all going to my organization, but then I thought 'Why not give some of it to the hurricane victims as well?" Brady said.
Now, proceeds from the auction, a total of $7,871, will be divided equally among the three charities.
According to Johnson, this isn't the first time the anonymous man has given generously to a cause.
"When my daughter was trying to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation, he told her that whatever amount she raised, he would match it," said Johnson.
"Well, she raised $22,400 and he cut her check for that same amount. He's just a really great guy."
Throughout the auction Brady and volunteers provided a lunch of hot dogs and cold drinks to the guests. The auction drew 50 registered bidders, many of whom were on their cell phones bidding during the last 30 minutes of the event.
Brady, who had a microphone and announced the countdown every five minutes until the closing at 2 p.m., was thrilled with the outcome, calling it "exciting and electrifying. It started to look like Sotheby's in there."
Bridgewater resident Steve Greene, who has volunteered with Brady on many projects over the years, successfully bid on a planter at the auction.
Greene called the atmosphere "joyous and light," because helping others "was not far from everyone's mind.
"I heard the phrase once that no man stands taller than when he bends down to help another," he said. "That is what I think of when I think of Peter Brady. He works tirelessly to help those in need."
From steeple on down...
Volunteers paint St. Margeurite Bourgeoys Church in four hours
By Angie Jeffrey
NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Brookfield resident Peter Brady, aka "the Handy Dandy Handyman," center, led more than 100 volunteers who painted the outside of St. Margeurite Bourgeoys Church.
"Peter said to me, 'Yes, it can be done," the Rev. George Sankoorikal remembers.
It was April and the parish pastor had just learned a professional painting company would charge $25,000 to paint the outside of St. Margeurite Bourgeoys Church.
But Sankoorikal, aka Father George, knew who might be able do it for less — way less: Brookfield resident Peter Brady, aka "the Handy Dandy Handyman."
"I had known about all of the different things that Peter does, and he had painted part of the inside of our church in April, so I asked if he would be able to help us," the pastor said.
Brady has helped needy people in Brookfield and surrounding towns — and as far away as White Plains and Pelham, N.Y. — through his non-profit HDHM Ministry, which relies completely on volunteers and donations.
The program focuses on helping senior citizens, widows and the handicapped with such services as building sheds, cleaning rain gutters, fixing leaky roofs and locating furniture. Volunteers also drive seniors to their doctor's appointments.
After Brady agreed to handle the church's paint job, he went to Ray Roth's Paint Supply in Danbury, where owners Dan and Agnes LaVoie offered to donate all the paint he needed, a total 76 gallons, as it turned out.
"I've known about what Peter does for years and he always insists on paying for his paint, Dan LaVoie said. "But this was a much bigger job than usual, and we have been wanting to do something like this for him for a long time."
Brady spoke at St. Margeurite's after each mass one weekend, telling parishioners about the project and asking their help. He "gave a very enthusiastic talk and he really motivated people," Sankoorikal said.
Brady also enlisted the help of his friends, family, and fellow parishioners at St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield. He soon had 100 volunteers signed up to paint and another 75 on a waiting list.
Brady organized the volunteers into nine teams, with a captain for each. On painting day, June 4, every volunteer brought his own equipment, whether it was paintbrushes, ladders or tables.
Professional painter Steve Turco donated his time for the day and brought along his own crew to assist with the job.
Brady was accompanied by his wife, Carol Ann, and his youngest daughter, 23-year-old Robyn. (Daughters Kerri, 34, and Ellen, 33, have helped out at past events.)
Brady's sisters, Sally Foley and Eileen Croston, also came to help, as did his brother, Bill "Doc" Brady of South Salem, N.Y., who provided a free lunch for all from his "Doc's Dogs" hot dog cart.
He made 400 hot dogs, and "many of our senior friends delivered all the desserts we could ever imagine,' Brady said.
Project coordinator Peter Brady organized volunteers into nine teams, with a captain for each.
The day's workers ranged in age from 10 to 79 years old. Brady gave each of them a hat and a red shirt that said "Proud to be a Volunteer with the Handy Dandy Handyman."
"Red is the color of the Holy Spirit," said Brady, who attributes the success of his helping ministry to "the gifts I was given by the Holy Spirit – organization, communication and motivation."
He'd originally asked everyone to show up at 8 a.m., figuring they would need the entire day to complete the job. But because of the enormous outpouring of help, the job was finished by noon.
"It was one magnificent achievement ... definitely a very successful outing by all accounts," Brady e-mailed the volunteers later. "A hearty thanks to all who participated in any way to paint God's House in four hours ..."
Father George also was thrilled:
"It was really a landmark event for us, working together with St. Joseph's and so many others who helped us. I hope this will continue in the future, and if St. Joseph's ever needs our help, we will be there to help them."
Janet Davis first met Brady through St. Joseph's parish and has helped him with past projects. When she heard he was looking for volunteers to paint a sister church, she and her family were happy to help out.
Davis, a religion teacher and director of community service at Immaculate High School, and her husband, Dennis, came to St. Margeurite Bourgeoys with their sons, 20-year-old Kyle and 16-year-old Tim.
"It was such a great day," Janet Davis said, "coming together as a community and helping out those in need.
"Honestly, though, I think those of us doing the painting got more out of it than those on the receiving end."
Brady, who retired from his job as director of purchasing at the Nestle Co. on Feb. 28, 2000, when he was 58, didn't spend much time relaxing. By March 1, he'd started what he describes as "a non-profit company working as a ministry"."
It keeps him busy "anywhere from three to seven days a week, depending on the calls I receive," he said.
"My motivation is this: I have been given much in life —financial security, a nice place to live, a wonderful wife for 36 years and three super daughters — so it was time for me to give back.
"My mission is to please the Lord for all that he has done for me."
For more information about HDHM Ministry, visit www.hdhm.org/gallery. Those interested in volunteering or receiving help from HDHM, should e-mail Peter Brady at Peterbrady@hdhm.org.
Drivers answer plea for meal deliveries
By Kamilla Gary
THE NEWS-TIMES
BROOKFIELD — Maureen Farrell, captain of the Brookfield Meals on Wheels team, wants to make it clear she has no shortage of volunteers willing to make sure elderly people get a hot meal each day, especially now that the holidays are here.
Farrell made a request for drivers recently through fellow volunteer Peter Brady. She immediately got 10 to 15 responses from people wanting to help.
Drivers are responsible for delivering to each senior on the route a hot lunch and a cold dinner consisting of a sandwich, fruit, milk and juice. Brady, who also runs the Handy Dandy Handy Man Ministry, said in his deliveries he meets people he has helped with home repairs.
Brady said he got involved with the program when he learned about it from other people two years ago.
"I had extra time and it's flexible," Brady said of the scheduling. He also does it because he can bring one other person along to share in the experience of giving to others. "You can establish the days you want to do it and it's two hours at the most."
During the winter months, Brady said there is a need for new drivers to fill gaps left by volunteers who travel out of state for the winter. Farrell said thanks to the e-mail Brady sent out, she now has more than enough people.
The Brookfield Meals on Wheels program is affiliated with New Opportunities Inc., a Waterbury-based community outreach program. The program has a satellite center in Danbury coordinated by Caleen Benson, who oversees the home meal delivery program for Brookfield and several other towns in the greater Danbury and Litchfield areas.
The Danbury office heats up the meals and drives them to Brookfield in a truck which has heat and refrigeration. Volunteers meet at the Brookfield Senior/Community Center to load the meals into their cars. It takes about two hours to complete one of the two routes in the town.
According to the New Opportunities Web site, people over 60 who are homebound because of disability or other reason are eligible to receive the meals. Meals are delivered five days a week with extra meals dropped off for holidays and weekends. Donations are suggested, but no one is denied a meal because he or she can't pay for it. Meals cost about $8 per day. Senior citizens can be referred to the program by social service agencies, health agencies, family members or by the individuals themselves.
Farrell said on average drivers deliver to about 30 people a day. She said she rotates a roster of about 35 drivers so volunteers get to drive and deliver meals at least once a month.
"It's a wonderful program here in town," Farrell said. "I'm always amazed at how much people are willing to serve others."
Farrell, who is also a registered dietitian, said the program practically runs itself in Brookfield, because all she has to do is schedule the drivers. She has been involved with the program since 1996 when she began driving. She took on the duties of scheduling in 2000.
Farrell said she got involved with the program because her father in New Jersey received Meals on Wheels when she couldn't get down to take care of him because she had young children at home. Becoming a volunteer allowed her to give back to the program.
"People can eat well and stay in their homes," Farrell said. "People who are homebound also get to see a smiling face — someone coming in to say hello."
Volunteers will rake while clients bake
By Kamilla Gary
THE NEWS-TIMES
BROOKFIELD — It started seven years ago with one man.
Peter Brady wanted to do something to bring his family closer to the community. He dreamed up what would become Rake 'N' Bake, with 10 volunteers and two back yards that needed cleanup.
Last year's event brought out 830 volunteers to serve 50 homes. This year's has 922 volunteers and 59 "clients," mostly senior citizens, people living with handicaps or people down on their luck.
The volunteers will rake the clients' yards Saturday beginning at 8 a.m.
"We're serving people less fortunate than we," said Brady, who is 63. "We have fun doing work for others. It seems to have grown leaps and bounds each year."
Brady, a 10-year resident of Brookfield, retired from his position as director of purchasing at Nestle in New Milford in 2000. A member of St. Joseph's Church, he became president of its Handy Dandy Handy Man Ministry, of which Rake 'N' Bake is a component.
Saturday's event will start at Brookfield High School. Team members will get name badges and meet their "house captain." The house captain will have already spoken with the owner of the yard they will clean, toured the property and found out how the leaves should be disposed of.
After all the leaves are raked, the "Bake" part comes into play.
"We rake and the client will bake a dessert for the sharing table" of a luncheon in the church parking lot, Brady said. All the clients are invited to feast on hot dogs and other picnic items with the leaf-rakers.
"Each individual gets to meet at least one new person," Brady said.
Through his own ministry, in which Brady volunteers almost year-round to fix up homes for needy and elderly people at no charge, he can suggest homes where the yards need a little tending. He also gets referrals through word of mouth.
Over the past seven years, Brady, whose wife Carol and daughters Robyn, Ellen and Kerri help with the fix-ups, has branched out to the seven towns surrounding Brookfield.
Word of mouth is also how the Rake 'N' Bake has acquired an exponential amount of volunteers over the years. Brady said he has an e-mail database of about 1,000 people he can call on if, for instance, someone needs his home painted and doesn't have the money.
"We do some electrical (work), we clean basements, we clean garages and (do) house painting," Brady said. "I will send out an e-mail asking for people to help."
Brady said he usually gets 25 responses within 90 minutes of an e-mail request.
All the work volunteers do year-round and during the Rake 'N' Bake is free to the homeowner.
"It's a win-win situation for everyone," Brady said.
The seventh annual Rake 'N' Bake is scheduled for Saturday. Teams are asked to meet at Brookfield High School at 8 a.m.
For information, contact Peter Brady at (203) 740-1243 or online at PeterBrady@HDHM.org
Rakers leave no leaf unturned in good will effort for seniors
Rakers leave no leaf unturned in good will effort for seniors
By Fred Lucas THE NEWS-TIMES
The News-Times/Silas Crews
Eddie Butt, 15, left, uses a blower to move a pile of leaves gathered by fellow volunteer Sachin Jhawar, 17, at the “Rake ’N’ Bake� event Saturday.
Rakers leave no leaf unturned
in good will effort for seniors
By Fred Lucas
THE NEWS-TIMES
Volunteers covered the Danbury area the way leaves cover a lawn in late fall.
On a brisk Saturday morning, 830 volunteers gathered in 50 teams to rake lawns of seniors and the less fortunate. After that, they were treated to hot dogs and desserts.
This was all part of the sixth annual “Rake ’N’ Bake� event, sponsored by Handy Dandy Handyman Ministries in Brookfield.
“I’m just doing it to help out,� said Jake Melville, a senior at Brookfield High School and member of the cross country team. He is the captain of a team that consists of the school’s cross country and girls varsity soccer team. “It’s just a fun thing to do to help out the community.�
The group was raking and blowing leaves at a home on Obtuse Hill Road in Brookfield.
Karla Hargrave, a Brookfield High School senior on the cross country team, said both young and old are in teams.
“There are a lot of adults. We’ve got ages from six months to 81,� she joked. “We’ve got neighborhood groups, church groups and people from Danbury, Bridgewater and Newtown raking.�
Homes in Brookfield, Bridgewater, Danbury and New Milford were raked.
Peter Brady, who founded and organizes the event, said the homes are selected on an as needed basis, or people in need can contact St. Joseph’s Church in Brookfield.
The rakers gathered at St. Joseph’s after they were finished, where they ate hot dogs for lunch and cookies, brownies and other desserts baked by homeowners they served. Thus, the name “Rake ’N’ Bake.�
“We rake, they bake,� Brady said.
In 1998, Brady, his wife and three daughters wanted to volunteer to help senior citizens. They were joined by five more people, and raked leafs for two homes before going out for pizza and naming the day “Rake ’N’ Bake.�
Last year the event grew to have 517 volunteers, and had over 300 more this year. Brady said the event cost $1,500 to put on.
The Rev. Tommy Thomas, at St. Peter’s Church in Danbury, participated with a group that raked leaves at a home on Junction Road in Brookfield.
“It’s wonderful,� he said. “There is such a large number of people involved for community service. The greatest joy is seeing so many young people involved.�
The yard work and the food are free, as it’s all done in the name of the Lord and the Holy Spirit, Brady said.
Amy Richards, a freshman soccer player at Brookfield High School, said the fact that it’s volunteer work makes it better.
“I thought it might be tedious, but it’s not with friends here,� she said. “We’re not paid. But that sort of makes it more fun because we’re not doing it for money. We’re doing it to be nice.�
Volunteer rakers go where the leaves are Ministry offers help to those who need it
Volunteer rakers go where the leaves are
Ministry offers help to those who need it
By Heather Barr THE NEWS-TIMES
BROOKFIELD — Tackling 50 leafy lawns in about 2½ hours sounds a bit strenuous for a Saturday morning, but not for 830 volunteers raking and blowing leaves at the sixth annual Rake ’N Bake.
The event is sponsored by the Handy Dandy Handyman Ministry, a spiritual organization that does community service activities for those in need through St. Joseph Church in Brookfield.
At 8 a.m., individuals, Boy and Girl Scout troops and area youth groups will meet at the church to move out and rake the lawns of people who are unable to do so and/or can’t afford to hire someone to do it.
The lawns are in Danbury, New Milford, Bridgewater and Brookfield.
“It is a great service because it is really expensive to hire someone to do this,� said Brookfield’s Norma Fogarty, who will get her lawn raked. “People get to help their neighbors and get to know their neighbors.�
“It’s lots of fun,� said Whisconier Middle School eighth-grader Liz Hegarty, 13, of Brookfield, who has volunteered at the event for about four years. “You get to meet people from around town.�
She is the captain of a team of 23 people, which includes her mother, Beth Hegarty. They will rake her grandmother Helen Fiddner’s lawn. Liz said her grandmother has gotten too old to do it herself.
“There are lots of trees around her house,� she said. “It is a big job to do.�
Last year, 517 volunteers raked 42 customers’ lawns.
“It’s incredible,� said retiree Peter Brady, organizer of the ministry. “(The number of volunteers) is way beyond my expectations.�
Brady said lawns would be raked simultaneously, with about 15 to 30 people per lawn.
The ministry cannot accept any more volunteers or lawns to be raked.
All volunteers at the Rake ’N Bake will receive a door prize ticket for one of three prizes.
At the end of the day, volunteers and customers are served hot dogs and salads with baked desserts at St. Joseph Church’s parking lot.
The ministry is asking for donations to pay for the roughly $1,200 worth of food. All donations are tax free. So far, $700 has been collected.
Checks can be made payable to HDHM Ministry and mailed to Peter Brady, 26 Shamrock Drive, Brookfield, CT 06804. Checks can also be deposited at a table at the event.
Santa to arrive on firetruck to start Brookfield holiday
Santa to arrive on firetruck to start Brookfield holiday
By Heather Barr THE NEWS-TIMES
BROOKFIELD — Arriving on the front bumper of a firetruck, Santa Claus will greet children Saturday at the town’s annual holiday tree lighting.
“It’s a lot of fun,� said Tom Gallagan, who has played Santa for the event for about 15 years. “I really enjoy it and enjoy the children.�
Gallagan is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10201 in Brookfield, who help with the event. The Brookfield Fire Department will drop off Santa at 5:30 p.m.
First Selectman Martin J. Foncello Jr. will make opening remarks for the ceremony at 5 p.m. at the Brookfield Municipal Center.
“It’s a great way to start the holiday season for everybody,� Foncello said.
The tree lighting ceremony began several years ago near Four Corners and was held at other places over the years until it was moved to the Brookfield Municipal Center in 1997.
Resident Peter Brady will lead people in a sing-along of Christmas carols after Foncello makes opening remarks.
After that, the tree in front of the Brookfield Community Center will be lit. The tree was planted several years ago especially for the ceremony.
Saturday afternoon, the Brookfield Rotary Club will decorate the inside of the community center like Santa’s wonderland, complete with animated characters for the event.
Santa will be inside the center, where children will be able to sit on his lap, tell him what they want for Christmas, and get their picture taken for free by the Brookfield Rotary Club. Film is donated by the Brookfield Parks and Recreation department.
Joan Mattson, member of the Brookfield Rotary Club, said the event brings in many families and children. “It brings the community together for a lot of sharing,� she said.
Bonnie Zschunke, a member of the Brookfield Newcomers & Neighbors Club, said some members of the group will set up a table with hot chocolate, doughnuts and other food that was donated by Dunkin Donuts and Stew Leonard’s. The Brookfield Garden Club will also serve refreshments.
Zschunke said her two children, ages 5 and 2, like going to the event. “They love Santa Claus being there,� she said.
A bell choir from the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, opera singers, face painting and hay rides will also be featured.
The Brookfield Lions Club will park cars.
The Department of Social Services will have a drop off location where people can donate food for the food pantry.
The Village at Brookfield Commons is the title sponsor for the event.
Handyman honored as a ‘treasure’
By Heather Barr THE NEWS-TIMES
Brookfield handyman Peter Brady receives the “Connecticut Treasures� award from Lt. Gov. Jodi Rell. Brady was honored for his volunteer work.
BROOKFIELD — When an elderly woman in the community needed help learning to operate her new computer, she called on Handy Dandy Handyman Peter Brady.
Brady, in turn, sent out an e-mail to find a student interested in helping.
Newtown High School ninth-grader Katie Winkler, 14, stepped up. She went with Brady to meet the senior citizen Friday, and will give the woman free computer help as needed.
“It was a good opportunity,� said Winkler, who likes to volunteer.
That’s how Brady’s program, offered through St. Joseph’s Church, works. Over the past two years, he and his Handy Dandy Handyman volunteers have done free odd jobs to help about 185 families.
“This is a holy spirit driven organization,� he said. “There is instant gratification. When you leave, you have a satisfied customer.�
That spirit of helpfulness earned him state recognition this week. Brady, 61, received the November “Connecticut Treasures� award from Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell Friday for his volunteerism.
Rell, of Brookfield, established the award to recognize individual and group volunteers who have worked to make their communities better.
“It is a tremendous honor,� said Brady. “It was totally unexpected.�
But it was not so unexpected to those who have received his help.“His outreach is spectacular,� said Helen Fiddner, 77, of Brookfield.
Brady and a friend of hers helped clean and paint the inside of her garage, cleaned her basement and worked on other rooms in her house. “It really builds community,� she said of his efforts.
Brady retired in February 2000 from Nestle USA Research Development Co., where he was director of purchasing.
In March 2000, he started the program after the church pastor asked him to rake two people’s lawns. He and his family did the job, and began to think of the others in town who need help around the house.
He helps senior citizens and those physically unable to do the work themselves, those who can’t afford help or those who want to donate to the church fund that helps pay the cost of projects for others.
“The concept is one customer helping the next customer,� he said.
Odd jobs range from changing light bulbs and setting mouse traps to painting the exterior of someone’s home.
He gets jobs by word of mouth, doing some on his own and getting volunteer help with others. He works on the projects four to six days a week.
“A lot of jobs are new to me,� he said, so he relies on help from expert volunteers who do electrical, plumbing and fine carpentry.
Brady said his volunteers ranging in age from 8 to their 80s.
Some 517 people raked leaves for 41 different customers at Brady’s sixth annual “Rake ‘n’ Bake� community raking event Nov. 9.
Janet Davis, 41, of Brookfield has been volunteering with Brady for a few years.
“He has done a fabulous job in that ministry,� said Davis. “He is no doubt worthy of the award today.�
Rakers take no pay for helping elderly
By Joe Gould THE NEWS-TIMES
The News-Times/ Michael Duffy
Timmy Loughlan rakes leaves during the sixth annual Rake ’n’ Bake Saturday at St. Joseph’s Church in Brookfield.
BROOKFIELD — When Patrick Clarke grabbed hold of the industrial-size leaf blower, vibration shot through his hands and shook his entire 9-year-old body.
How much fun did he have on Saturday?
“On a scale of one to one-hundred?� Clarke asked. “One-hundred. It was so much fun.�
Platoons of volunteers deployed from St. Joseph’s Church raked the yards of senior citizens on Saturday as part of the church’s sixth annual “Rake ‘n’ Bake.�
Clarke, who made a new friend and got to play in a leaf-filled pit, was one of hundreds of volunteers who raked dozens of yards on Saturday morning.
It’s all about the joy of helping others, said organizer Peter Brady.
“It’s the experience of giving and not expecting anything in return and the good feeling you get when you give,� said Brady, as a hot dog luncheon was wrapping up in the church parking lot.
The News-Times/ Michael Duffy
Peter Brady serves a hot dog to Jim Thomas.
Jessica Holko, 17, said her church youth group got a good feeling raking leaves for an elderly woman who thanked them with homemade brownies.
“It was great because she really appreciated it,� Holko said. “It was nice to do something for somebody.�
Alex Brescia, owner of Preferred Lawn Service, donated the use of his company’s equipment because what goes around comes around. “It was to help people out,� Brescia said. “One day, maybe people will help me out.�
Brady is known in Brookfield as the founder of “Handy Dandy Handyman,� a St. Joseph’s-based group of volunteers who help senior citizens and the infirm.
They accept no money and perform their work in the name of the Holy Spirit. The bulk of what they do could be described as odd jobs, but they also give Christmas gifts at local nursing homes, and have been known to sing Christmas carols on request.
Brady said the idea for the handyman service and the “Rake ’n’ Bake� began when the former pastor of St. Joseph’s had Brady and some helpers to rake two yards in 1989. “I realized people need help around their homes, not just raking leaves,� Brady said.
From there, Brady also arranged to turn the raking into a community event. It’s grown dramatically in recent years, he said. Last year’s event had 375 volunteers and 28 homes. This year had 500 volunteers and 41 homes.
Consider that First Selectman Martin Foncello and his family took part. Consider that one of the teams, from Cendant Mobility, had 22 people and scoured leaves from an 89-year-old woman’s 1½-acre property.
Frank Santi, 66, is a typical customer. Santi, who is retired, said raking leaves is no longer easy work for him. He would have raked in stages to clear his own property, which is two-thirds of an acre.
On Saturday, a crew of 18 people zipped through in hours.
“It was like a wave,� Santi said. “They sweep it right up.�
To volunteer with Handy Dandy Handyman, e-mail Brady at Peterbrady26@aol.com.
Get out that repair list - Peter Brady and crew will do whatever is necessary — free
Get out that repair list
Peter Brady and crew will do whatever is necessary — free
By Pamela Brown SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-TIMES
Erin Kiernan
The Handy Dandy Handyman, Peter Brady. His idea to perform general home maintenance for those in need is linked to the social concerns ministry at his church, St. Joseph’s in Brookfield. At first, seniors were the primary focus. Now, anyone can call and get help.
BROOKFIELD — Fixing leaky faucets. Painting. Cleaning out basements. Repairing storm doors. Peter Brady has been there, done that. And
still is.
As founder of the 3-year old Handy Dandy Handyman, Brady and his volunteer crew perform general household maintenance for people in need.
“I’m healthy and can do things,� says Brady, 61, of Brookfield. “I’ve been given a great family and financial independence, and I wanted to give back.�
Brady retired in 2000 after 38 years with Nestle USA where he was director of purchasing. A year before, he approached the Rev. Larry Carroll of Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Brookfield with the idea of doing household repairs for others.
Bob Deierlain admires the work Brady and crew have done so far.
“It was a mutual decision,� says Carroll. “We have a social concerns ministry at the church to meet the physical and emotional needs of our parish family, and Peter is the hands-on part of the ministry. ... It started with helping the seniors and it mushroomed.�
While still at Nestle, Brady worked weekends on handyman jobs. Since his retiring, he has focused his full attention on helping people who genuinely need assistance — senior citizens, young couples -- regardless of whether they are members of the church.
“The Handyman service is spiritually motivated,� says Carroll. “Peter believes he’s being guided to do this. If there’s a need, Peter will try to meet it.�
Word of mouth has taken Brady all over Connecticut, including New Fairfield, Bethel, Shelton and Wilton and as far as White Plains and Chappaqua, N.Y.
Brady and volunteers Ann Deigan, left, and his wife, Carol Ann, paint a downstairs room in the home of Bob and Mary Deierlain in Brookfield.
“The Lord said, ‘Help those who need you,’� says Brady. “... I look at the job, and if it’s something I can do, we do the job.�
Brady works three to five days a week and sometimes seven. Before taking on a job, he gives potential customers a three-page flier explaining who he is, the jobs he has done — and that there is no charge for either the labor or materials.
However, Brady appreciates a donation to Saint Joseph’s Sharing Box, used to purchase supplies for further jobs.
No job is too small or too big.
“I can do two or three jobs a day,� he says, “depending on what needs to be done. It can be a major paint job or as small as changing mousetraps.�
On one job, Brady spent $2,000 on a new stove, carpeting and renovations for a family in need.
“I connected the stove and sat there for four hours listening to the woman’s story,� says Brady “Sometimes I do a half-hour job and I stay two hours to talk about their life, family. It’s a benefit. I get to know them and they become friends.�
Joan Forrester, a senior citizen in Brookfield, recently hired Brady to paint her porch, move a cord of wood and fix her toilet. “When I was at an AARP meeting I heard his speech. It was amazing to me seeing someone do this in a community. I gave him a call, and he’s very easy to talk to. He looks at the job to see if he can do it. It took him a couple of hours to fix my toilet. It was a tedious job and he never complained. ... I�ll definitely use him again for other jobs,� says Forrester. “He’s a wonderful, friendly, genuinely nice person.�
Through meeting Brady, says Forrester, she has enlarged her social circle. She volunteers her time at various Saint Joseph activities, although she is not a member of the church. “It’s good for me,� she says. “I’ve met some really nice women.�
John Waurishuk, 39, of Brookfield, has been a volunteer with the Handyman service for more than a year. “Ten of us always volunteer regularly, and I’m one of the 10. I work about one to two days a week with him. ... Sometimes he gets 30 to 40 people for a job.�
Last year, 81-year-old Mary Smith of Brookfield helped Brady paint a house.
Waurishuk recently worked with Brady to clean out a basement, paint and replace siding for a woman with multiple sclerorsis, and he recalls the day a man called to explain that a group he hired to sing Christmas carols at his daughter’s wedding had canceled.
“Pete heard about it and he had 10 of us singing at her reception,� says Waurishuk.
“One time at a big paint job he made it a big event and brought a hot-dog cart. He brought the church closer together. I wouldn’t have met half the people I’ve met without being a volunteer. He does more than the work. He goes beyond,� says Waurishuk.
Brady encourages youth to participate. “Today, kids get such bad raps. I do jobs on Saturdays just so they can help. And I’ve had 52 kids from the religious education group volunteer,� says Brady.
Local Girl Scout troops and Brookfield High sports teams number among his volunteers.
“The key is to motivate people by making the event fun,� says Brady. “On jobs we wear red Handyman T-shirts with Proud to be a Volunteer and customers get one that says Proud to be a Customer. Red is the color of the Holy Spirit and it keeps us all together. At the end of the year I name a volunteer of the year to anyone who showed a lot of effort.�
Ross Craig, a senior at Brookfield High, got the first one.
“I’ve been volunteering since sixth grade,� says Craig. “He e-mails me jobs and I go with him. Over the summer I painted a house or two, a porch, and cleaned gutters. I see people smile, and they’re thrilled when they see the work he’s done. He’s a very caring person.�
Brady is always thinking of ways to bring people together. He started an annual Rake and Bake six years ago. Last year, 217 volunteers from the church gathered to rake the yards of senior citizens. Brady also organizes field trips for Saint Joseph’s 55+ Club, and he is in charge of 31 families who maintain the grounds of the Saint Joseph�s Grotto on Route 25. “It’s a beautiful way for families to participate, and they totally love it,� says Brady.
His giving spirit reaches beyond the church. He hosts a local Christmas sing-along that he started 28 years ago. And he along with St. Joseph parishioners and Nestle employees have brought holiday music and gifts to nursing homes in Kent and New Milford for seven years.
He also volunteers once a month at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House in Danbury. “I’m on a team and serve dinner. I stay overnight on a Friday, and I do laundry and check the people in. In the morning I serve coffee,� says Brady. “The key is each time I go I bring someone different with me — a high school kid or an adult — and they love it.�
To honor Brady’s efforts, the Brookfield Rotary Club awarded him its 2000 Volunteer of the Year, and in December I-95 FM named him Man of the Year. “We wanted to do something positive, so for two weeks, me and my partner, Omelette, asked listeners to nominate, via e-mail, a regular everyday guy who goes beyond. And Brady’s name came up the most,� says Ethan Carey, host of I-95’s rock ‘n’ roll radio show.
When not volunteering, Brady enjoys spending time with his wife of 32 years, Carol Ann, and their three daughters, Robyn, Ellen and Kerri, all of whom are volunteers. “It’s a family affair,� says Brady. He enjoys racquetball and has set up a yearly tournament at the Brookfield YMCA.
Brady says his joy in the job comes from “instant gratification. The satisfaction of feeling good about what I’m doing and filling a need for someone. Sometimes for just 10 minutes of my time and $8 I can fix something for someone. It’s those little things — a stuck window or a broken smoke alarm. It’s just the fact that I’m giving back to the Lord what he gave me.�
To volunteer with the Handy Dandy Handyman, e-mail Brady at Peterbrady26@aol.com
