Repairs Needed to Help Jefferson County Families

Hammers of Hope, a Jefferson County organization dedicated to helping area residents, is partnering with Disability Resource Association to sponsor the fourth annual "A Thanksgiving to Remember."

Over the next five weeks, the organizations hope to build four wheelchair ramps and complete repairs for three home repairs in Jefferson County, said Hammers of Hope coordinator Dennis Murphy in a news release.

He said he already has the building materials but needs volunteers to donate their time and construction talent for the projects.

“We have two projects in Fenton, one in Arnold, Festus, Imperial, High Ridge and House Springs,” Murphy said.

He said two wheelchair ramps were completed earlier this month, but he needs crews to build other ramps in in House Springs, High Ridge, Imperial and Festus, Murphy said.

The Arnold project is an urgent project, Murphy said. It is for a single mom with a 7-year-old daughter who needs a hot water heater and several floor sections replaced in a mobile home.

“I need someone with electrical skills to look at some special needs there," Murphy said about the Arnold project.

The Festus project involves some minor house repairs and landscaping issues to solve a water runoff problem, Murphy said.

The Fenton projects are smaller, Murphy said. One Fenton home needs 10 deck boards replaced and painted. The other Fenton home requires flooring installed in the kitchen and bathroom.

“We are also in need of food or cash donations so that we can provide food items to each family for their Thanksgiving dinner,” Murphy said.

Interested volunteers should call 636-464-5144 ext. 15.