Barre, VT – July 28 – August 3, 2024

This week we were joined by a mixed group of 15 volunteers from Virginia and Pennsylvania.  As of the end of this week, MDS volunteers have completed 31 jobs and are working on 4 more.  Our efforts include cleaning up and removing trash and debris, mucking out basements, removing and replacing drywall, tearing out and installing insulation, doing plumbing repairs, and most importantly, restoring hope.

On one project, these 7 women carried out 2,700 buckets of muck from one homeowner’s basement in less than a day.  That is 45 tons of muck and they did it with joy and singing!  They left our client with a muck free basement and tears in his eyes.

Another client sent this note to us:

Thank you. First and foremost we are so grateful for your help. That made a huge difference in my ability to be more independent. We are also grateful for the love that we felt from all of you. I truly felt the kindness and kinship from all of you. For us it was more than constructing a ramp. Your presence at this time was a healing balm. The night of the flood we heard the sound of boulders being tumbled, in what is usually a babbling brook, and by the time we got our cars moved and a bag packed our house was surrounded and we couldn’t get out. We listened to the sound of our deck and small barn rip away from our house, where we heard the crashing of the apartment building coming apart and we heard bridge breaking up. We prayed and watched and we were fortunate to have a home when it was done. I wanted so much to share a meal with you but the brook is active and rain is forecasted and I am anxious about going. Owen is awaiting a lung transplant and needs oxygen with him and I don’t move very fast so we don’t want to take any chances. You will forever be in my grateful heart and prayers. Bless you all and know that you are bringing God’s love with you and it meant the world to us. Jane

We said goodbye to crew leaders Brent and Mervyn and welcomed Nevin and Bill.

Reporting from all of us at Barre, office manager Kent.