Erie’s First Ward HOME CHORE program added two new partners in 2008, Martin Luther King’s Youthbuild ERIE and Fairview’s Church of the Cross.

Youthbuild, a federally funded program that teaches young adults construction skills while they work towards their high school diplomas, rebuilt the front porch roof of a HOME Chore applicant. Youthbuild provided the skill and labor while we paid for the materials.

Many thanks to Wayne Harbison, Garlan Ferebee and Fred Winkelman for their help forming this partnership.

In July, a youth group from Fairview’s Church of the Cross spent a week scraping and painting the windows and porch and rebuilding the back stoop of another HOME Chore applicant. The Church has “adopted” the homeowner and is coming back in October to trim the bushes and yard.

We wish to thank all the young people who donated their spare time during one of the hottest weeks of summer to help spruce up this fine old home.