ReBuilding Hope – Exciting New Assistance Program in Branson

Dear Branson Lakes Area Neighbor-

We want to tell you about ReBuilding Hope, an exciting new assistance program created by Mountain Country Homes of Hope.  ReBuilding Hope’s purpose is to offer home maintenance and repair help to homeowners who are seniors or veterans living on a fixed income, or working, low-income families in our community.  While Homes of Hope continues to address decent and affordable home ownership, over the past few years we have found that there is a great and growing need to address home maintenance concerns as well, especially among the elderly and working, low-income homeowners.

Meet a very special lady, Donna Gilbert.  Donna, a retired school teacher, has been a resident in our community for over seven years.  She teaches two English 101 classes at OTC to supplement her limited income.  Donna contacted  Homes of Hope in February seeking help to fix her furnace.  Her 20-year-old air conditioning unit had failed the previous summer, and she had made due with fans throughout her home.  Her furnace, although still functioning, was so old and inefficient that even keeping the temperature set at a chilly 62 degrees, the utilities for her small home were over $300 a month.
We made a visit to her home to discover that the temperature inside was just slightly warmer than it was outside, yet her furnace ran constantly emitting only a whispered strength of tepid air.  Donna never once complained about the cold, although she did sheepishly admit to putting on an additional sweatshirt and another pair of socks at night.  We fell in love with Donna and her desire to partner with us.  Remedying her situation was a perfect project for ReBuilding Hope.  With the help of David Jackson at D&B HVAC Systems we were able to give Donna a brand new heating and cooling system.  After her new HVAC unit was installed, Donna wrote us to say, “I am sitting in my living room enjoying this blessed air conditioning.  Already, it has made such a difference in how I feel- not as much shortness of breath, and much more energy.  Thank you again for a much needed and timely gift.  God bless your efforts.  In love and appreciation, Donna Gilbert.”

ReBuilding Hope projects are capped at $5,000.00, but most requests are much smaller: cleaning gutters, caulking windows, constructing a handicap ramp, replacing a sink or toilet – small jobs that most of us can do ourselves or can afford to hire it done.  And, by utilizing donations to our Warehouse Resale Store, we are able to cut the cost of some repairs even more.

We provide labor and materials for minor repairs at no cost.  However, if an applicant has the ability to make small, monthly payments for larger repairs, we ask them to do so.  Repayment enables us to help more people, and empowers the ones receiving help to, in turn, help others.

Partners in ReBuilding Hope  When we asked for bids on Donna’s new HVAC system, David Jackson, owner of D&B HVAC Systems, gave us a quote at hundreds of dollars less than others.  When  a local family needed a new roof, Norm Cook at Cook Roofing came to our rescue, as did Shawn Saxe at Arrowhead Building Supply.  We could not accomplish all we do without the help of these wonderful people and others like them.

We Need Your Help, Too!

The folks we serve are homeowners who are making every effort to pay their mortgage, their utilities and other basic needs themselves.  They don’t own luxuries like new cars, plasma TVs or iPhones.  But having a roof that doesn’t leak, windows and doors that are sealed against drafts or even something as minor as a toilet that flushes properly are not luxuries. These are basic home maintenance and repair needs that they can’t afford on an already over-stretched budget.

Giving a senior citizen cooling in the summer, and heat in the winter is a blessing.  Giving a veteran wheelchair access to his home by building a ramp to his front door is an honor.  Patching a leaking roof for a couple earning minimum wage with three small children is a memory.

Please, help us help others like Donna by giving as much as you can to ReBuilding Hope. Your donation of $100, $50 or even $25 will enable us to continue to enrich the lives of our neighbors in need.

Please, put a check in the mail today.

Click here for Donation Information.

Very Sincerely,
The Board of Directors of Mountain Country Homes of Hope and ReBuilding Hope

P.S. Don’t forget that we need donations of building materials and household items at our Warehouse Resale Store located on Gage Road in Hollister behind the Hollister Police Station.  If in doubt of what we accept, remember:  If it doesn’t hang or fold … we’ll take it! You can drop off your aluminum cans there as well.