JOPLIN, Mo. —
Volunteers with Hearts & Hammers of Southwest Missouri on Saturday spread out to 16 homes in Joplin, Duenweg and Carthage for its annual work day.
“We’ve got 16 people we’re going to be a blessing to,” said Hearts & Hammers board President John Clayton as the volunteers gathered at Landreth Park.
He said Hearts & Hammers is a Christian group that does remodeling and repair work at homes of those in need. It organized in the Joplin area in 2003. Since it started, the group has made improvements to more than 200 homes. He said there were probably around 100 volunteers on Saturday.
“Let’s go to work,” Clayton said as he sent the volunteers to their job sites.
Betty Saltenberger, 84, was among the volunteers on Saturday. The other volunteers refer to her as “Aunt Betty.”
“I’ve been to every one since they started here in 2003,” she said. “I wouldn’t miss them.”
Saltenberger was assigned to a house at 115 N. Patterson Ave., where she promptly befriended the owner, Peggy Brust. Brust joined Saltenberger in removing years of accumulated leaves and debris that had piled against the fence on the north side of her property.
“I can’t sit in the house and do nothing,” Brust said.
Brust, 75, said she has plans to plant a vegetable garden there in the spring.
Other volunteers were building a new front porch and placing handrails on her back porch. She said she is recovering from a stroke.
“Stairs are my nemesis,” she said.
Asked about the friendship they had developed, Saltenberger and Brust said they were roughly the same age.
“We grew up in the survival era,” Saltenberger said of the Great Depression.
Brust said she also has had help recently from Economic Security Corp. in replacing her siding.
“I think it’s great,” Brust said of the help from Hearts & Hammers. “They’ve been super. I’m going to have almost a new house by the time it’s done.”
John Clayton’s son, Scott Clayton, director of Habitat for Humanity, stopped by to see Brust and Saltenberger at work.
“I think I’m going to sign up for Habitat,” Saltenberger told him.
“We’d love to have you, Betty,” Clayton said.
At 1316 Kansas Ave., volunteers were painting the house of Bob Beck. Beck, 75, said he doesn’t feel comfortable climbing a ladder to paint.
“I just really appreciate this,” he said. “It’s been about 13 years since it’s been painted. I just can’t thank them enough.”
Among those at Beck’s house were Chizuru Hedin, who brought her daughters, Izabella, 10, and Lauren, 8.
Asked why they wanted to participate, Lauren spoke up.
“We didn’t have anything else to do,” she said.
Hedin said she’s glad her daughter didn’t say, “Mommy made us.”
“We just heard about it at church and we thought this was a good chance to help someone,” Hedin said.
Hedin and her family attend St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, as does Ashley Qualls, who also was painting.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun and it feels good to help somebody,” Qualls said.
Skipping 2011
John Clayton, board president, said Hearts & Hammers didn’t do a work day last year because everyone was involved with recovery efforts after the May 2011 tornado.
Top Stories
Related Photos
-
Tim Story (left) and Shaun McConnaughey, both of Neosho, cut a board while working at a Joplin house during Saturday’s Hearts & Hammers event. Globe | Roger Nomer
-
Betty Saltenberger, 84, was among the Hearts & Hammers volunteers providing help on Saturday. Globe | Roger Nomer
Discussion
Hearts & Hammers volunteers work on 16 homes
- Top Stories
-
-
Local runners show support for Boston in cross-country relay
After completing the Boston Marathon on April 15, Ashleigh Beyersdorfer made her way through the throngs of runners to retrieve the bag she had checked in and was on her way to meet up with her family when she heard the explosions.
-
Bruce Speck to receive equivalent of year’s salary under settlement in MSSU departure
The departing president of Missouri Southern State University, Bruce Speck, will receive the equivalent of a year’s salary as well as housing and health care benefits through the end of the year.
-
Pevely woman wins $1M Powerball prize
An eastern Missouri woman is the winner of a $1 million Powerball prize.
-
Proposal would reduce 20th Street to two lanes
A design proposal that would convert much of 20th Street into two lanes instead of four from Main Street to Campbell Parkway to make room for streetscape and green features did not draw much public support on Tuesday.
-
MSSU board to complete terms of president’s departure
The Board of Governors of Missouri Southern State University will meet Wednesday to complete the terms of the agreement that terminated President Bruce Speck’s contract, board Chairwoman Sherry Buchanan said.
-
State’s key witness testifies in murder trial
The fate of Dustin Boggs may ultimately depend on the credibility of Arturo Council. If jurors believe Council, then Boggs, 25, could be convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 stabbing and shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Danyel Borden, 21, at his trial this week in Ottawa County District Court.
-
Swimmers attempt to set world record
Even before the instructor had finished giving his direction to the class of young swimmers, 4-year-old Alexa DeBerry had dunked herself underwater and had come up giggling.
-
Joplin City Council to move forward on $130 million recovery proposal; curbside recycling election resurrected
Residents kept the house packed to the end of a 2 1/2-hour meeting of the Joplin City Council on Monday night to encourage the panel to resurrect some kind of curbside recycling proposal and to hear the details or support a $130 million recovery plan.
-
Board chairwoman: Bruce Speck out as MSSU president
Bruce Speck is “no longer president” of Missouri Southern State University, the Board of Governors disclosed Monday. The announcement was made late Monday afternoon following a unanimous vote taken during a closed board meeting Friday.
-
Swimmers join worldwide effort to try for world record
A group of youngsters was part of a worldwide attempt Tuesday to set a record for the world’s largest swimming lesson.
- More Top Stories Headlines
-
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
