Residents Benefit From

AmeriCares HomeFront Project Volunteers

By Kendra Bobowick

Power tools, pruning sheers, a few rakes, and much-needed coffee brakes filled the morning and carried volunteers through to the mid and late afternoon as they made home repairs and caught up with yard maintenance at two Newtown residences on Saturday, May 3.

Ellen Porubanic was among the helping hands at her mother’s house on Lantern Drive where a dumpster took up the driveway and volunteers bustled around the yard and up and down ladders propped near windows they replaced, trim they painted, and other repairs in progress. Homeowner Martha Porubanik stood only inches away from one significant repair as she came to the front door. Pointing down at the doorsill, she noted the new piece of wood that sat beneath the front door. The original sill had been rotted out.

With a hand on the door frame, she looked outdoors to the property where she has been living since 1950, watching the flurry of work as AmeriCares HomeFront volunteer team members trimmed trees, raked off garden beds, replaced trim, and painted shingles that had been replaced around several new storm windows.

“They’re wonderful people, I really do appreciate it,” Martha said. “They did such a nice job.”

Onsite was First Selectman Joe Borst, who admitted that team members wanted to put a rake in his hand when he approached. He commended the volunteers at the Lantern Drive home, and those at a Mile Hill South location for their efforts.

Lions Club past president Paul Arneth worked with a handheld power saw in one spot, and pushed a wheelbarrow across the front walk in another to remove pruned brush. On a ladder replacing molding over a side door was current Lions Club President Tom Evagash, who glanced over his shoulder occasionally to review the work around him.

As pleased with the work as her mother, Ellen Porubanik admitted, “A lot was overgrown.” The volunteer contribution is “good karma” she said. “It will come back to you.” Turning to her mother, she said, “You help people mom.” Thinking of the lessons her mother taught her, Ellen said, “I was brought up to help people.”

Remembering the pride her mother took in her home and property, Ellen said, “She really kept things up, kept the gardens beautiful, replaced stone walls, but when you don’t keep it up…”

Finishing for her daughter, Martha said, “It gets away from you.” She has not been able to do as much of the work on her own recently, and had applied for help through AmeriCares. The team that arrived at her home on Saturday included members from the Lions Club, Newtown United Methodist Church, and Newtown Congregational Church.

Toward the center of town another team of nearly 40 members from New Fairfield Congregational Church scrambled up and down ladders, carried paint buckets and drop clothes indoors, repaired bathroom and kitchen floors, and more for Mile Hill South resident Luecella Tondreau, who also welcomed the help.

With paint speckling her face and cap from the painting she as doing along with the volunteers, Ms Tondreau took a moment to relax. With a glance toward the group making the home improvements, she said, “They give me such a wonderful gift. They do a wonderful job, they’re a wonderful group.” She also agreed that upkeep and home maintenance can “get away from you.”

Thinking of the repairs her home needed, from floors to painting inside and out, and more, she said, “It’s all done in one day. Amazing. Otherwise it’s depressing.”

One of the team captains, Liz Yono, welcomed the chance to help someone.

“This was an opportunity for us to focus on a local mission,” she said. Church members who were not able to attend the home repair efforts were still able to contribute to the day, she said. “They made lunch for us,” Ms Yono said.