ADFAC repair fair helps homeowners

More than 800 teenagers and adult volunteers have come from across the county to make repairs to homes in Oak Ridge and Anderson County.

The work is part of the 16th Annual Summer Repair Fair organized by Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

The fair started June 17 and ends June 30. The volunteers could make repairs to as many as 84 homes, an ADFAC press release said.

During the Repair Fair, volunteers make free repairs for homeowners who are elderly, disabled and/or low-income.

Projects include basic weatherization, painting, and repair and construction of porches, steps, and wheelchair ramps, as well as many other unique projects.  Construction materials are paid for through grants and donations, and are purchased at local stores.

The fair is coordinated by ADFAC’s Affordable Housing program.

The volunteers come to East Tennessee through ADFAC’s partnership with REACH Workcamps, a nondenominational faith-based nonprofit in Colorado.  The volunteers stay at Clinton Middle School, where after a hard day’s work, they enjoy a dinner made by CMS cafeteria staff, slide shows of the repair sites, and special programs put together by the REACH staff, the press release said.

ADFAC is an independent nonprofit agency that serves the basic needs of primarily low-income residents in Anderson and surrounding Appalachian counties. For more information, visit www.adfac.org.