The teams of volunteers and coordinators of Repair Baldwin are using all of their skills to improve the lives of residents across Baldwin County.

The goal of Repair Baldwin is to address home repairs at a critical time to extend the life of houses owned by low-income or elderly residents across the county.

Founded by members of Eastern Shore Affordable Houses, Inc., Ecumenical Ministries Inc. and Habitat for Humanity of Baldwin County, the group works together with area churches and nonprofit organizations to fix houses in need of repair.

Since the group started in 2012, Sally Deane, executive director of Ecumenical Ministries, says organizers have noticed two home repairs that are in great need throughout the county — entry ramps and roof repairs.

“A lot of the home repair is roof repair,” Deane says. “We kind of knew that going in, but we have seen a lot of home repairs that are tied back to failing roofs.”

Deane says the group will help make repairs to houses all across the county.

Just two months ago, Repair Baldwin received a grant from the United Way that will be put toward the renovation of residential roofs throughout the county with the help of area professionals.

“We are going out into the community and we are getting licensed and insured roofers, and we will pay them for one job if they will give us a labor-free job on the next house,” Deane says. “We’ve already gotten three roofers step up to do this.”

When it comes to building ramps for people in need, Deane says time is the challenge.

“When that type of project comes along, it is normally something that has to be taken care of pretty quickly,” Deane says. “A lot of the time, people have suffered a stroke or an accident, and they need to get out of their home. We have lots of church teams that want to step up to build ramps.”

Regardless of which repair a resident receives, Deane says the joy they have when the work is done makes her job worthwhile.

“It’s an amazing feeling when a project is done,” Deane says. “I feel this way with all work we do, but ramps are close to my heart because you can see people light up when they are finally able to leave their house in either a walker or a wheelchair.”

Deane says people in need of home repairs can download an application from the organization’s website.

HOW TO HELP

Website: RepairBaldwin.org

Email: info@repairbaldwin.org

Call: 251-928-3430

Mail Checks: write check to Repair Baldwin at Ecumenical Ministries, PO Box 1103, Fairhope, AL, 36533