We have started a new ministry here at St. Peter’s called “Good Neighbors” and it is part of the Good Works home repair ministry in Coatesville. For those who have not heard of Good Works, it is kind of like “Extreme Makeover – Home Edition”. We don’t put in rec rooms, or additions, but we will put on new roofs and install new windows. The goal of Good Works is to make the homes of low-income residents, warmer, safer and drier.

A “Good Neighbor Church” is a church / parish that agrees to be a sponsor for a given home and provide the leadership, technical support and workers to complete required repairs. Good Works provides the tools and materials. The St. Josephs’ Good Neighbors Group has been active for 4 years, and recently St. Elizabeth’s became a Good Neighbors Church. St. Peter’s provided 21 volunteers for workdays in April and May already.

 All volunteers are welcome; you don’t need to be a home repair expert to be involved. There is no age limit on either end of the scale, if you want to help, there is a place for you here. Younger children need to work with their parents to assure their own safety.

The workday staff consists of several key positions. The Work Crew Leader is the overall supervisor for the workday. You don’t need home repair skills for this role, but good organizational and people skills are needed. 3 of 5 work crew leaders for St. Joseph’s are women. The “Technical Staff” are the home repair experts; they are either professional contractors, or die-hard “do-it yourselfers”. These are the guys who know the difference between 20 gauge and 12 gauge wire, a 2 x 10 and a 1 x 3, and that using plumbers putty instead of spackle on a wall is not a good idea (ask my wife about that one).

The Home Ambassador is the “people person” of the crew who works with the homeowner in a variety of ways. They are the kind face that makes sure we are doing what we can for the homeowner. Since a workday runs from about 8 to 4, we like to provide lunch for the workers. The Lunch Coordinator organizes lunch for the work crew through multiple volunteer “chefs”. Finally, the Volunteer Coordinator helps with scheduling the work crews for the given Saturday workday. A typical work crew is usually about 8-10 people. Having 50 volunteers one month and none the next month doesn’t work too well.

Individual workers can come every month or twice a year. For the staff positions (WCL, TS), people should commit to 8-10 Saturdays a year. We have been blessed in that we have already had people volunteer to fill the staff roles, and have submitted applications to Good Works. St. Peter’s will begin work on its first home on June 23, 2007.

Please consider this ministry that brings the Lords love to those less fortunate.  If you have any questions on Good Works please contact Chris Kerr at 610-518-1898 or e-mail at christopher.kerr@comcast.net.