Volunteers fix up homes for owners who cannot

Residents in Tampa and St. Petersburg celebrate free renovations, thanks to a non-profit agency.

By LINDA GIBSON

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 5, 2001

TAMPA -- Wayde Collins has moved back into his house of 26 years, but it seems like a brand-new place.

It has new carpet, siding, roof, drywall, paint, tile, appliances, central heat and air, an upgraded electrical system, sod on the lawn, even a new house for the family dog -- all of it donated and put together during the past month by volunteers.

Rebuilding Together, a national non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., began work in Tampa and St. Petersburg about six months ago. With the help of volunteers and local businesses, the organization renovates houses for low-income elderly or disabled residents, at no cost to the residents.

It has finished two houses in St. Petersburg, three on Spruce Street in West Tampa and another two in the 1300 block of State Street, including the Collins house. The second one belongs to 84-year-old Mollie Windom.

Jacqueline Knight, a local coordinator for the organization, said she has another 14 houses selected for renovation by the end of 2001. She put her public relations business on hold in February to donate her time to the effort. "Somebody's got to do it," she said. "We have people in east Tampa living in Third World conditions."

At least two dozen businesses, ranging from Krispy Kreme to Hannah Bartoletta Homes, donated materials (including doughnuts) and labor for the Collins house.

Collins, 76, and his 43-year-old daughter, Cheryl, who suffers from diabetes and lupus, tried on their own to keep the house in good repair. But age, illness and lack of money hindered them.

A relative learned about Rebuilding Together from a newspaper article. By the time volunteers began working on the house, the central heat and air conditioning system had long ago given out and been replaced by window units and space heaters. The roof had holes. The wood siding was rotting away.

Collins, his daughter and relatives worked alongside the volunteers every day. They videotaped the renovation, capturing themselves and volunteers tearing down walls, ripping up old carpet and tile, sanding and painting.

They took turns narrating, and granddaughter Maya Brinson, 24, sang This Used to Be My Playground by Madonna while they worked.

The Collinses had to move themselves and 26 years' worth of belongings out of the house for a month. "It was a very small price to pay for a brand-new house," said Cheryl Collins, who has lived in the house since she graduated from high school. "It's like starting over new."

The Collinses and relatives, including some of Wayde Collins' 20 grandchildren, worked recently on finishing touches, such as putting up mini-blinds and brass house numbers.

Collins, who worked as a supervisor for the city public works department before retiring, said he plans to spend a lot more time fishing, now that his house will need so little maintenance.

"It was a good experience," said Brinson. "We want to thank all the volunteers. This is such a blessing."

- Linda Gibson can be reached at (813) 226-3382.

Interested?

Jacqueline Knight, the local coordinator for Rebuilding Together, can be reached at (813) 835-9242.

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