A new service and an expanded one at a new location are broadening the reach of United Methodist Children's Home this fall.
"(Helping Hands) Home Improvement is an opportunity for our YouthBuild graduates while they're looking for full-time employment to continue to hone their skills and earn some income," said Kay Zibby, vice president of operations for UMCH. "I think of it as a bridge for these young adults in the community."
Residents of Jefferson and surrounding counties can now hire Helping Hands employees, usually former YouthBuild members, for construction projects of all kinds. Zibby said the service has, since its formation in late summer, helped construct an office building in Pinckneyville, built several garage additions and repaired a roof in Centralia.
"We've been doing some of this all along. It's really a formalizing of what's come out of YouthBuild," she said. "There are a lot of projects in the works."
Zibby said residents who hire Helping Hands will get a free estimate, fair price and quality work as well as helping troubled young adults, many of whom have families to support.
Zibby said no specific expansions of Community Connections have been finalized for the new location, the seventh opened by UMCH, but the extra breathing room could lead to big things.
"It gives our therapists a better environment to give this service to the community," she said. "We'll be able to expand similar types of services." http://goo.gl/TF2ZE
