Grieving widow gets warmer, safer home

One of the many projects Good Neighbors had the pleasure of helping with this year was at the home of local Avondale resident, Joanne. Joanne is a remarkable elderly woman who lost her husband to throat cancer this past year following a lengthy two-year battle. With grief overshadowing daily life, how to stay warm was not at the top of Joanne’s “to do” list.

Joanne’s daughter Donna is an employee of Lowes in Avondale. Donna has seen first hand the efforts of Good Neighbors as Lowes has been a caring partner for many years. She helped organize a group of Lowes employees, who worked alongside 10 volunteers from Christian Life Center and Good Neighbor’s Board Member Chris Wolfe, to begin repairs on her mother’s home.

Since the original work began last spring, Good Neighbors has replaced Joanne’s roof, installed gutters and downspouts, added new windows and topped it off with a new, up-to-code electrical panel. Now Joanne’s home is warmer, safer and drier thanks to our incredible volunteers — including her own daughter.

“I had been grief stricken for a long time. Losing my husband has been a hard road. Coming home to a dry and warm house has been such a comfort. I don’t know that I could have made it through the winter alone without this new feeling of security.”

Good Neighbors Inc. provides home repairs and financial guidance to homeowners who lack the physical or financial means to make necessary home repairs. For over 22 years, with support from gener-

ous donors and local volunteers, Good Neighbors has helped hundreds of families in southern Chester County. In so doing, we restore hope and dignity to our neighbors and our neighborhoods.

Our mission is to make homes warmer, safer, drier and healthier for qualified homeowners as an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ.

For additional information please visit our website at www.goodneighborshomerepair.org. Please help us continue this hol- iday tradition of giving to those who need it most.

Contributions to the program can be addressed by sending a check made payable to United Way of Chester County/Share the Warmth, c/o Daily Local News, 250 N. Bradford Avenue, West Chester, PA 19382. Attention: Andy Hachadorian, Editor.

COURTESY PHOTO Following the completion of their work on projects, Good Neighbors dedicates the homes they have worked tirelessly to repair before turning the keys back over to the grateful homeowners.