FALMOUTH – More than 300 volunteers came together yesterday to make a difference in the lives of 16 individuals and families as part of the 8th annual Big Fix.
The event is organized each you by the Housing Assistance Corporation, and features teams of volunteers making small home improvements for local income-eligible veterans, seniors, and the disabled.
“That’s just a huge, huge help to these homeowners and they’re simply not at a point in their lives where they can either do that work themselves physically or they don’t have the financial means to do it,” said HAC Volunteer Coordinator Mary Everett-Patriquin.
What started as an uncomfortably humid and cloudy day soon gave way to clear skies and bright sunshine as contingents of volunteers set to work trimming hedges, cutting brush, raking leaves, spreading mulch, planting flowers, and painting trim.
“I’m just tickled pink, thrilled and happy,” said homeowner Tina Barr, who learned about this opportunity through the senior center, “They have gone far beyond anything I could have hoped for and done a beautiful job at that.”
“The only thing they haven’t done is my housework,” She joked, “I’m just overly grateful, thankful, and obnoxiously happy. It’s like Christmas morning ten times over.”
This year’s efforts took place in Falmouth, as organizers work each year to ensure that a different community is serviced. In past years, the Big Fix has been to Barnstable, Dennis, Sandwich, Mashpee, Yarmouth, Bourne and Brewster.
The workers however are from all across the cape. Church groups, high school clubs, young people, and some particularly agile seniors all took part in the project.
For their efforts, the crew was treated to a cookout lunch in front of the Lawrence School.
It has already been announced that Big Fix number 9 will be taking place in Harwich and there is plenty of time for those in need to sign up for help by contacting the Housing Assistance Corporation, or visiting HAConCapeCod.org.
By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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