Helping Hands builds 'ministry' with home improvement projects for those in need of help

Here’s an idea. How about helping people with household projects such as rehanging a door or unsticking a window? Or maybe changing out a light bulb in an outside fixture? A bulb could be a daunting project for a person who shouldn’t be near a ladder.

That sounds like a good idea. Helping Hands is a recently formed group from Clay United Methodist Church. Church member Kenn Andrews is one of the organizers. “What that ministry does is it reaches out to seniors, people with disabilities, or people on fixed incomes. They need help with repairs and many things.”

Kenn calls it a “ministry.” To him, it is a way to share the skills that he was given. He said he started in his teens to develop in the building trades. “We were dirt poor. In order to have a bedroom, I had to build it.”

Namely News: Clay Fire Territory Chief Timm Schabbel retires after 35 years with the department

Kenn learned the skills of electric and plumbing. Later, he received an engineering degree. Then he was a business owner.

Back to Helping Hands. “We do it for free if they cannot afford it. If they can pay for materials, that’s great, and if they can pay for the materials plus give some more to help finance the next project, that’s even better,” he said.

There is no cost for the labor. Kenn said a friend of the church gave some seed money to start the projects.

Construction is a higher calling. A very high calling — especially if you need a ladder.

He said this all started at a men’s meeting at Clay. “We were discussing ministries and helping others. I talked about another church that had a group that did little jobs for church members. We kicked it around.”

Last year, Helping Hands did a few projects within the church. Now, the group is working with Real Services to identify people who need assistance. Helping Hands has a few projects already on the list for the spring.

Doug Fecher is part of Helping Hands and Clay church. “We were kicking around ideas at the men’s group, and Kenn recounted the story about a Granger church that assisted members. That sounded like something we could do. We did a few projects last winter.”

Doug said it is “absolutely fulfilling” to use skills and see what we can do for others.

Linda Hersman needed a ramp to get out of her home. Her mobility issues made it difficult for her to get to the store or for doctors’ appointments. Maneuvering a walker out of the house was a big issue.

Helping Hands built the ramp last summer for Linda. “It is so beautiful. They beveled the ends of the lumber. The inspector said he had never seen such a beautiful ramp. The Clay church is so caring, it has so many ministries and outreach projects. The men used their abilities to help me. I’m so thankful. They have good hearts.”

“It is a ministry that is working with people who might not reach out to others," Kenn said. "To me, this is a good step. The work is a ministry, and people don’t realize it. We’re like an incognito Jesus.”

Jesus did carpentry, too. Plumbing? Not so much. He added light but no light bulbs.

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Thursday is an extra day for everyone. But about five million people in the world share Feb. 29 for a birthday.

For Lori Hicks, of South Bend, Thursday is special. Feb. 29 is a great day to celebrate. “I love my birthday. I’ll never get old. My parents taught me it is special. I always thought it was a cool day.”

She said she was born late on Feb. 29 and her mother was concerned that her child would be a regular kid with a March 1 birthday. It all worked out for her before the clock struck midnight.

“The only drawback to the date is government forms. Sometimes the pulldown boxes on computer pages will kick you over to March,” Lori said.

She was planning a "Sweet 16" party with bowling and a big cake.

Greg Matthews will also be celebrating his birthday this Thursday. His mom, Charlotte Matthews, has been surprising him since he was four (or one — depending on how you look at it). “I always had his photo in the paper, signs outside his work. He was on Sunny 101.5.”

Mother Matthews said her son never knows what she will do next. “He expects something, and he will get kidded at work when he is in the newspaper.”

She recalled that Greg was three weeks late in the delivery of her son and she was happy to have him arrive on Feb. 29.

Jessica Langager is Greg’s daughter. “It has always been a special day for all of us. My grandmother thinks it is funny that my twins (Alexa and Brady) are 17 and their grandfather is 16.”

Contact Kathy at kfborlik@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Church group helps with household projects for those in need