Forty elderly or disabled homeowners in the Warner Robins area will benefit from home repairs and improvements provided by Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April on the national workday, April 24. According to Jerome Stephens, Chairperson for the Warner Robins affiliate of Rebuilding Together, of the 61 applications received from homeowners, 5 houses' repairs have already been accomplished, improvements on another 40 homes will be completed on April 24, and the work will continue on other homes long after the official workday is over.

"We are a year-round volunteer organization. Much work is done on our national workday, which is always the last Saturday of April, but we are also making much-needed home improvements for elderly or disabled homeowners without the means to do the work themselves throughout the year. Some of our work includes seasonal repairs for heating and air conditioning. We worked on at least ten heating repairs for people this winter, " Stephens said.

Work has also been accomplished locally on Project Homefront, a national Rebuilding Together program partnering with Home Depot. Home Depot donated one million dollars to assist military families across the nation in home repairs that they could not get done because of a family member's deployment.

"We were fortunate in Houston County to be able to repair six homes using over $15, 000 in funds on two houses in Perry, one house in Centerville, one in Bonaire, and two in Warner Robins. We heard a lot of feedback from the military families we helped. They were amazed at what we accomplished. We had volunteers helping on most of these homes, " Stephens said.

For seven years now, Stephens has helped his community by volunteering with Rebuilding Together. Committed since its inception into Warner Robins in 1997, Stephens has served as a volunteer, committee person, assistant house captain, house captain, chairperson of teams, vice president, and now the chairperson overseeing the entire program.

"I first found out about Rebuilding Together (known as Christmas in April at that time) when I saw an advertisement posted at city hall. When I showed up at the Houston Mall to volunteer that first year, I was told that I was going to be working on the Warner Robins Supply-sponsored home. It rained all day long, but the workers stayed and got everything done even in the rain. The people working on that home that year were just awesome, and the spirit has never died since then. This year Rebuilding Together will have revitalized and repaired over 225 homes in the Warner Robins area, " Stephens said.

After his inspiring initial experience as a volunteer, Stephens wanted to spread the word about this program designed to assist deserving homeowners. He went to his church pastor (Arthur Hicks at the time) at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church and explained the mission of Rebuilding Together. Hicks warmed to the idea, and Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church agreed to sponsor a house in 1998. They have sponsored a house every year since then. The dedicated involvement of fellow volunteers continues to keep Stephens uplifted. "Colonel Richard (Rick) Rider really inspired me. Rick was the person who brought Rebuilding Together to Warner Robins. He saw the program in Macon and thought, ‘Well, why can't we have an affiliate in Warner Robins? ' He set things in motion. He became even more of an inspiration to me after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. I came to a Rebuilding Together worksite one day, and Rick was there leaning on his walker painting the side of the house. I'll never forget that day. He was that kind of guy. Even when he was very sick, he gave his all to this program. I couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with, " Stephens said.

The grateful response from thankful homeowners also motivates Stephens. "When we finish a home and we see the teary eyes of the people who can't believe that we came in there and did all this work at no cost to them, that's motivation right there to stay involved with Rebuilding Together. Everybody involved in this program is helping neighbors, " he added.

Stephens is sure that he has been called by the Lord to help his neighbors who are in need. Stephens equates the purpose behind Rebuilding Together with the key lessons learned from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. "When you embrace the teachings found in the Beatitudes, all of this service comes out of it.

Putting this program into action each year, we find ourselves stepping out on faith in a lot of areas, and we often go beyond the scope of the program. Our main focus is that someone is helped.To help our neighbors, we try to meet their physical and spiritual needs, " Stephens said.

Stephens encourages Warner Robins homeowners who are 62 years or older who have owned their own homes for two or more years or homeowners who are disabled to apply for the 2005 Rebuilding Together project year. The application process begins August 1 and goes through October 31.

Rebuilding Together is an all volunteer effort and has a budget of roughly $100,000 for the home repairs in 2004.

Stephens asks that churches, Christian organizations, and local businesses encourage members and co-workers to commit to working on April 24.

"We are thankful for our existing community support for Rebuilding Together because without this community support, these people's homes could not have these repairs done. Our support comes from local church groups and Christian organizations, local businesses, financial institutions, the City of Warner Robins, and Robins Air Force Base, among others. Some sponsor houses, and some contribute labor, but all are working together to improve our community, " Stephens said.

All volunteers for the April 24 workday will meet at the Warner Robins Recreation Department on 800 Watson Blvd. at 7 a.m. The Recreation Department facility will serve as the command post throughout the day. Workers must be at least 14 years old and accompanied by an adult.

To volunteer to be a part of Rebuilding Together, call Mike Moehlenkamp at 328-7232, Volunteer Houston County at 929-5464, or the City of Warner Robins at 929-1140. You can also write to Rebuilding Together (Warner Robins) at P. O. Box 8664, Warner Robins, GA 31095- 8664.

For more information on the national program, visit www.rebuildingtogether.org.