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Building a better life
For the elderly and disabled, getting around can be tough.
It's hard enough when a local shop doesn't have a wheelchair ramp. It's even worse when your own house has the same problem.
That's where Project Mend-A-House comes in. The local nonprofit sends volunteers to the homes of elderly and disabled residents, retrofitting houses with wheelchair ramps and making basic repairs and modifications.
“We're their safety net,” said Andrea Saccoccia, executive director for Project Mend-A-House.
The organization works with low-income residents whose homes have fallen into disrepair and who are unable to fix the problems themselves. The group can handle everything from leaky faucets to ramps to porches and decks that have become unsafe.
Saccoccia said that because the clients are economically disadvantaged, they often don't have the money to make minor fixes so “a small problem becomes a larger problem.”
The organization handled 137 clients last year, performing 350 different repairs.
Last weekend, Project Mend-A-House held one of its three big annual fundraisers -- the Builder's Yard Sale.
Construction companies and contractors donate appliances, equipment, building supplies and other materials to Project Mend-A-House, which then sells them off at the yard sale to raise money for operations.
Saccoccia said they raised $7,000 last weekend, a pretty good take considering the economy.
The group's next project, she said, is to build a 60-foot ramp for a disabled resident.
They're also starting to plan for their Taste of the Town fundraiser in October and they'll hold a golf tournament that month as well.
Project Mend-A-House gets some funding from the county and from Manassas but it relies heavily on donations from individuals and businesses.
To help out, send checks to Project Mend-A-House, 7987 Ashton Ave., Suite 231, Manassas, VA 20109.
For more information, to request assistance or to donate online or over the phone, visit www.pmahweb.org or call 703-792-7663.
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