Handy household helpers

Senior citizens throughout Orange County are receiving help with small home repair projects thanks to the Handy Helpers program sponsored by Aging Together.
According to Aging Together in Orange County Resource Specialist Nancy Rhoades, Handy Helpers was born out of a need to help seniors with small jobs around their homes.
"The things we do are what other agencies turn down because it is too small a job," she said.
Projects covered by the group include light bulb replacement and fixture cleaning, replacing batteries in smoke alarms, fixing steps, limited yard work and deck repairs. The program does not do any work on roofs and no electrical repairs are allowed.
"A lot of times people will call because they want something done like maybe they want their ceiling painted," Handy Helpers Volunteer Committee Chair Nelda Spaur said. "We don't do that. We do things that are important for safety such as fixing steps and replacing window panes. It really has to be a need."
The work is done by volunteers throughout the county with groups in Rhoadesville, Unionville and Orange.
"They come from organizations and churches," Spaur said. "Some are just citizens who said they'd like to do something to help."
Orange County resident and East Orange Ruritan Club President Perry Marshman is one of Handy Helper's volunteers. He said volunteering has immense benefits.
"Volunteering gives you an opportunity to change lives, including your own," he said. "The Handy Helper program is but one way to volunteer in the our community. The folks we help through this program are some of the nicest people you would ever want to meet."
Two or more people work on a job at a time. The scheduled work can last anywhere from one hour to six hours, depending on the length of jobs required. Spaur said some jobs can take multiple days depending on what needs to be done.
Marshman said volunteers with the program have built handicap ramps; built steps; repaired plumbing, windows, doors and gutters; installed smoke alarms and replaced lights.
"This program is important to assist the elderly in maintaining their independence and their way of life," he said. "In most cases their home is their rock and the longer they can live there the better off they are. Programs like Handy Helpers assists people in maintaining their home and keeping it safe by doing minor maintenance."
Handy Helpers only assists disadvantages and disabled senior citizens age 60 or older. They must own their home, have no else reliable or dependable to provide services and cannot afford repairs or have repairs too small to require a contractor. According to Rhoades, the seniors are usually recommended by Social Services or are referred by county advocates who work with seniors.
In order to have their repairs considered for completion by the program, the senior must complete an application and sign a release. Plus, if possible, the seniors should purchase and have on site the supplies needed to complete the requested projects. Although, Spaur said, the program has been fortunate to have many supplies donated by local businesses.
"We have been most fortunate because companies in Orange have been so good about donating things which is so helpful," she said. "We only started with about $100 which isn't a lot when it comes to purchasing supplies."
Spaur said the group has recently been awarded a $900 grant which will also assist them with the purchase of supplies and allow them to help more people.
"If you could see when we go into these places, the people are so desperate to have someone help them," she said.
To find out more about the Handy Helper program, contact Nelda Spaur at 832-5457 Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Orange County Senior Advocate Hazel Eakin at 825-3100 ext. 3450 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or Senior Center Coordinator Marcia Pearson at 672-5926 Monday through Thursday from 12:30-2 p.m.