Today was the final week of what has turned out to be another wonderful week of collaboration between the PVs and Northern Illinois University students. As is our tradition, we try and have the group do a project all together on the last day since they are spread out working in different groups the rest of the week. Today they worked in Baileysville to help to rehab an old church that sits on top of the mountain. The road to the church was impassible by car, so the group had to hike up the side of the mountain with supplies and ladders in hand. The church is tiny, only about 10 foot by 12 foot, but holds huge memories for many in the community. The group put paneling on the ceiling and walls, and installed a door. It is the hope that the church can be used again and create many more memories.

After heading back to The Way to start to clean up the group drove up to Twin Falls to join us for dinner and a closing reflection. It was great to hear the impact the week’s experiences had on everyone. Thank you to NIU’s Newman Center for organizing a great group, The Way for housing the group and to the many people in Wyoming County for their hospitality. It was a wonderful week.

Today was the final week of what has turned out to be another wonderful week of collaboration between the PVs and Northern Illinois University students. As is our tradition, we try and have the group do a project all together on the last day since they are spread out working in different groups the rest of the week. Today they worked in Baileysville to help to rehab an old church that sits on top of the mountain. The road to the church was impassible by car, so the group had to hike up the side of the mountain with supplies and ladders in hand. The church is tiny, only about 10 foot by 12 foot, but holds huge memories for many in the community. The group put paneling on the ceiling and walls, and installed a door. It is the hope that the church can be used again and create many more memories.

After heading back to The Way to start to clean up the group drove up to Twin Falls to join us for dinner and a closing reflection. It was great to hear the impact the week’s experiences had on everyone. Thank you to NIU’s Newman Center for organizing a great group, The Way for housing the group and to the many people in Wyoming County for their hospitality. It was a wonderful week.

Today the sun came out, dried up the roads and left a genuine feeling of spring. Because of the gorgeous weather, the volunteers were very busy today distributing furniture at the St. Vincent DePaul warehouse, loading up the clients cars and assisting wherever necessary. With extra help, on days like these St. Vincent DePaul is able to give out much needed housewares and today specifically, mattresses.

Today was also the last day at the home repair site for the week. The difference between when we came in to begin work on Monday and how it looked this afternoon is astounding. Besides how it looks, just the fact that the floors are safe and sturdy is a huge worry off the minds of the home owner. While we were working on the floors and painting, we noticed that the toilets were flushing hot water. We found out last year when she was hooked onto city water they hooked the hot water instead of the cold water into the toilet. Just making this switch should help tremendously with her electric bill, and also replacing a leaking faucet should help save some more money. It turned out to be a wonderful week for both the volunteers and the home owner.

Finally, today was the last day the students went to assist at Head Start. From all reports the students have had a wonderful experience working with the teachers and students, as well as learning a lot about what it is like to grow up in the area. The Head Start will also benefit by being able to count all these volunteer hours to gain additional funding. Kudos to the Head Start and the teachers for allowing the students this experience.

Tomorrow for the final day, we have a special project that the whole group will do together. More on that tomorrow…..

Today the sun came out, dried up the roads and left a genuine feeling of spring. Because of the gorgeous weather, the volunteers were very busy today distributing furniture at the St. Vincent DePaul warehouse, loading up the clients cars and assisting wherever necessary. With extra help, on days like these St. Vincent DePaul is able to give out much needed housewares and today specifically, mattresses.

Today was also the last day at the home repair site for the week. The difference between when we came in to begin work on Monday and how it looked this afternoon is astounding. Besides how it looks, just the fact that the floors are safe and sturdy is a huge worry off the minds of the home owner. While we were working on the floors and painting, we noticed that the toilets were flushing hot water. We found out last year when she was hooked onto city water they hooked the hot water instead of the cold water into the toilet. Just making this switch should help tremendously with her electric bill, and also replacing a leaking faucet should help save some more money. It turned out to be a wonderful week for both the volunteers and the home owner.

Finally, today was the last day the students went to assist at Head Start. From all reports the students have had a wonderful experience working with the teachers and students, as well as learning a lot about what it is like to grow up in the area. The Head Start will also benefit by being able to count all these volunteer hours to gain additional funding. Kudos to the Head Start and the teachers for allowing the students this experience.

Tomorrow for the final day, we have a special project that the whole group will do together. More on that tomorrow…..

The rains continue to pour and the rivers continue to rise. There is hope that tomorrow will bring sunshine and temperatures in the mid-sixties, melting the final patches of snow that remain and allow the swollen rivers to recede. We are really getting a taste of the weather that spring can bring.

We started the day with a quick repair of the sump pump at The Way to get the water flowing again and then headed out to sites for the day. The Head Start crew left really early, once again, to drive out to Baileysville and spend their day with the kids. The next departure was the crew heading to the worksite. Today the group laid the carpet and a couple of rows of tile on the newly replaced tile. The homeowner was ecstatic with the new floor, so excited not to have to walk around the holes anymore. Also on the docket was installing a new light fixture and fixing some plumbing problems and painting Killz on stains on the ceilings from a long ago leaky roof that the PVs fixed about 10 years ago. The plumbing and electric will continue into tomorrow, as well as a fresh coat of paint on the ceilings. The last group to leave The Way was the group that went to the Itmann Food Bank. The students got to learn the history of the Food Bank and help to clean and get it ready for distribution next week that will service over 500 people. Another great day!!

The rains continue to pour and the rivers continue to rise. There is hope that tomorrow will bring sunshine and temperatures in the mid-sixties, melting the final patches of snow that remain and allow the swollen rivers to recede. We are really getting a taste of the weather that spring can bring.

We started the day with a quick repair of the sump pump at The Way to get the water flowing again and then headed out to sites for the day. The Head Start crew left really early, once again, to drive out to Baileysville and spend their day with the kids. The next departure was the crew heading to the worksite. Today the group laid the carpet and a couple of rows of tile on the newly replaced tile. The homeowner was ecstatic with the new floor, so excited not to have to walk around the holes anymore. Also on the docket was installing a new light fixture and fixing some plumbing problems and painting Killz on stains on the ceilings from a long ago leaky roof that the PVs fixed about 10 years ago. The plumbing and electric will continue into tomorrow, as well as a fresh coat of paint on the ceilings. The last group to leave The Way was the group that went to the Itmann Food Bank. The students got to learn the history of the Food Bank and help to clean and get it ready for distribution next week that will service over 500 people. Another great day!!

We were awoken in the middle of night by rain pattering on the roof thankful that the days plans were all indoors. As the rain continued all day and we were driving the streets of the county we kept one eye on rising creeks and rivers. There is still a flood watch for tonight, but as of now the water is staying within its banks and the fog is hanging low in the mountains.

The days activities included working at the Head Start, the St. Vincent DePaul warehouse and continuing the home repair work begun yesterday. Items were ready for distribution and the warehouse cleaned at St. Vincent DePaul, kids had learning companions and seat mates on the bus, and the floors were replaced and ready for carpet at the home repair site. A great day all around.

We were awoken in the middle of night by rain pattering on the roof thankful that the days plans were all indoors. As the rain continued all day and we were driving the streets of the county we kept one eye on rising creeks and rivers. There is still a flood watch for tonight, but as of now the water is staying within its banks and the fog is hanging low in the mountains.

The days activities included working at the Head Start, the St. Vincent DePaul warehouse and continuing the home repair work begun yesterday. Items were ready for distribution and the warehouse cleaned at St. Vincent DePaul, kids had learning companions and seat mates on the bus, and the floors were replaced and ready for carpet at the home repair site. A great day all around.

The first day of the service week with Northern Illinois University students went off without a hitch and to top it off we were blessed with a beautiful sunshiny day. The sun and warmer temperatures allowed some of the snow to melt before the rains settle in for the week, hopefully helping alievate the flooding possibilities.

The students spent their day at three different sites. A group headed out to Bailyesville to work with the kids at Head Start, continuing the tradition of NIU students helping out there. They not only welcome them in with open arms, they really give a full experience from breakfast, the school day and the bus ride home.

Another group of students spent the day at the St. Vincent DePaul warehouse in Pineville helping to sort through the warehouse and get ready for some give-a-ways during the week. As always the experience is made even that more wonderful by spending time with Debbie. : )

The final site of the day was our home repair site. Volunteers spent the day tearing up and replacing flooring for a wonderful woman who lives near the Wyoming/McDowell County line. We will be working at the site throughout the week finish up the flooring and installing carpet. Keep checking back for updates on this project and all the great work this week. We will post pictures as we get them as well.

The first day of the service week with Northern Illinois University students went off without a hitch and to top it off we were blessed with a beautiful sunshiny day. The sun and warmer temperatures allowed some of the snow to melt before the rains settle in for the week, hopefully helping alievate the flooding possibilities.

The students spent their day at three different sites. A group headed out to Bailyesville to work with the kids at Head Start, continuing the tradition of NIU students helping out there. They not only welcome them in with open arms, they really give a full experience from breakfast, the school day and the bus ride home.

Another group of students spent the day at the St. Vincent DePaul warehouse in Pineville helping to sort through the warehouse and get ready for some give-a-ways during the week. As always the experience is made even that more wonderful by spending time with Debbie. : )

The final site of the day was our home repair site. Volunteers spent the day tearing up and replacing flooring for a wonderful woman who lives near the Wyoming/McDowell County line. We will be working at the site throughout the week finish up the flooring and installing carpet. Keep checking back for updates on this project and all the great work this week. We will post pictures as we get them as well.