Katie's Interview with April

Both Hands Project

Basket

I made a little basket for April today. Just some girly stuffs and some oven mitts for her new oven. :) Oh and of course some kitty treats for her kitties.

I pledge allegience!

The last time I was visiting at April's house I noticed that in her front yard was a flag pole with an American flag on it. The flag was tattered, ripped, and faded. I knew right away I wanted to get her a new one. So yesterday we got her this new flag above that I am excited to raise at her house once the project is over. I hope that she likes it and that the current one doesn't have any sentimental value to her.

Replace that Oven!

Great News Today!

Our team member, Susan, got a hold of the East Pasco Habitat for Humanity Restore in Dade City today. She spoke with the manager, Tony Bryant. Tony has offered to donate an oven to April Marr for the project.

The last time we visited we learned that her oven hasn't worked in years, nor did three of her four stove top coils. She had just mentioned it wondering it if it were a quick fix for us. Our team member, Todd, spoke with some people and found that the parts were obsolete, and if we special ordered them he would not be able to take them as returns, and they still may not fix the problem. So we went about looking for a new oven for April.

I just called her to let her know that we will be able to replace the oven rather than fixing it and she is so excited. She said that really if we only fixed her glass slider that doesn't slide she'd be happy, but she is so excited about us helping her. I can't wait to go spend the day with her.

My brother and our team member, Todd owner of The Skylighters, has figured out the logistics and located the parts for all the other projects we will do. We only have one more thing to figure out before the service day. The flooring. I have spoken with a friend from Tampa Tile Center, and am hoping he will find another idea for us.

If you know anyone with knowledge on flooring please shoot me an email. :)

Meet April

Here are some things that you might want to know about our widow April Marr

• April has the following types of pets: squirrels, cats (a colony of them), coi fish
• April has three children, including a set of twins
• April's favorite color is green
• April's favorite plant is ivy
• April was born in New Jersey
• April's daughter is a nurse who works in the hospital in zephyrhills
• April used to love to ride horses when she was able
• April built a coi pond out of an old hot tub in her screened lanai
• April rescued two baby squirrels after the hurricanes of 2001 when they fell from their nest and were starving
• April also had a pet possum and an owl at one time

Visiting April

Yesterday Bryan and I had the pleasure of visiting with April to prep for our project. My neice Sarai (also on our team) came along, as did our foreman (my brother Todd). We walked around the house and took a couple pictures and took notes and measurements. We are very excited to be back in October and get these projects done.

Here is her broken fan that we will be replacing.

We plan to build a new ramp on the other side of where her wheelchair is here. She struggles to fit the wheelchair through this path and we will do what we can do make it easier for her to get out of the house.

These bricks are often falling from underneath her wheels. We hope to find a way to keep that from happening to help prevent a fall.

This is her path to the front door from the kitchen between the carpet. The original installer used metal pieces that aren't meant to curve like this, so the pieces are broken into pieces and come up at each curve. These metal pieces trip up her wheelchair and have sliced her foot on a couple occasions. It is not wide enough for her wheelchair and so the pieces keep getting pulled up.

These are the separations that keep coming up.

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We have a list of other items, such as replacing screening, weeding, fixing doors, sliders, windows etc. Also her oven does not work and only 2 out of the 4 burners on the top work so we will see what we can do to help with that.

Mrs Marr

Saturday we met with Mrs Marr. She is a widow with polio and diabetes who is wheelchair bound. We have a lovely time with her explaining to her about Both Hands and how we might be able to help her. I absolutely adore her. I hope that we can create a relationship with her extending past Both Hands. We are waiting to hear back from Mrs Soucy to schedule her meeting. I will let you know more as it comes up.

Journey to Find our Widow Part 1

At Both Hand's recommendation I have reached out to Meals on Wheels. I have contacted MOW in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Manatee and have only heard back from East Pasco. The woman there (Cindy) will be sending a note out with meals this week to contact me if they are interested. Perhaps by the end of the week we will have a widow to love on. I will keep you updated.