Faith-Based Group Celebrates 200th Home Rehab

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Meet Harold Ellingson of Casper, Wyoming. Ellingson is a 52 year old single father with a disability. He has lived in his house on South Fenway for the past 14 years. His son Eric attends a local high school and assists his father. Harold worked as a chef at the Casper Petroleum Club until his disability forced him to take an early retirement.

Harold and Eric's life got a little better when World Changers (WC) made their 6th annual trek to Casper. WC is a program of the North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Church that recruits youth volunteers to make repairs and improvements to the homes of low-income elderly and disabled families across the country. One crew put a new roof on Ellingson's house. Then they gave it a fresh coat of paint and added a new sliding glass door to his patio. "It's too bad they have to leave, but I'll think about them every time I look at my "new" house," Ellingson remarked.

It costs an average of $1889 per house for materials and HUD contributes to this project through its Community Development Block Grant funds to the city. Robin Mundell, Housing and Community Development Coordinator of Casper's Community Development Office and the city's coordinator for the WC work in Casper estimates that volunteers have donated about $1.3 million in labor over the past six years. WC volunteers, including adult supervisors, pay $250 each plus transportation costs to participate in this community service project. Centennial Junior High School serves as a dormitory for each of the two groups that spend a week in Casper.

WC and the City of Casper have forged a partnership that epitomizes the President's Faith Based Initiative. Together, they have improved the lives of many homeowners like Harold Ellingson who can now continue to live in safe, comfortable homes as a result of the repairs. In addition, volunteers learn skills and have the rewarding experience of helping others; Casper residents and partners get acquainted with these folks from other states and see first hand the good work they do; the community is expanded when they join forces with neighbors from near and far to improve the place where they live.