Team Vance rebuilds together

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Paula Bissonette
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  More than 150 members of Team Vance joined various Enid businesses and hospitals Saturday to accomplish repairs on 12 private residences.
The mission of Rebuilding Together is to preserve and revitalize houses and communities, assuring that low-income homeowners, particularly those who are elderly and disabled, and families with children live in warmth, safety and independence.
This year marked the 9th anniversary for the project formerly known as Christmas in April. More than 115 homes have been improved in those nine years, one of which belongs to Mr. and Mrs. Gary Smith. Their home on East Randolph received a new roof last year and exterior paint on half of the house. This year the volunteers were back to finish the job, which involved 20-foot ladders and scaffolding to reach the second floor windows and woodwork.
"The workers are all doing a great job this year," Mrs. Smith said. "Rebuilding Together is a marvelous deal, these repairs are things we could not have done ourselves."
House captains organize the work to accomplish on each home and ensure all the needed supplies are on hand. House captain Jeff Woolsey, a patient advocate from Bass-Integris hospital, has worked on this project for the past three years.
"This year has been the best as far as the weather and volunteers," Mr. Woolsey said. "People from the base have always been involved [with the project] so we're very fortunate to have that resource here in Enid."
Rebuilding Together logistics chairman Mary Kirtley also expressed a great appreciation for the volunteers from Vance.
"I would like to express my appreciation to Vance Air Force Base, the volunteers that helped on Saturday, the people that captained houses and the board members loaned from the military -- Brad Babb, Dave Lineback and Brad's wife Molly Babb -- thank you!" Ms. Kirtley said. "This project can only be accomplished with the continuing spirit of volunteerism for which the people of Enid and Vance AFB are so well known."