Helping the community; CHIP program continues to work on summer projects
Published 10:09 am Tuesday, July 12, 2016
- Volunteers remove a shrub as part of the Community Home Improvement Project Monday morning. Photos by Alex Smith/alex.smith@austindailyherald.com
With a fresh coat of bright pink paint, Community Home Improvement Project volunteer Gary Ofstedahl thinks homeowner Cindy Vaughn’s home will be easily recognized.
“You won’t even need a house number,” he joked.
Vaughn’s home is one of 11 CHIP projects worked on so far this summer. The Vision 2020 Community Pride and Spirit committee launched CHIP in 2013 as a community betterment program that utilizes volunteers to reduce the cost of home repairs for families who qualify. Homeowners work with volunteers to make improvements to the exterior of their home, which could include painting, patching roofs or fixing windows and doors.
Homeowners Dave Williamson and Cindy Vaughn, right, pose with volunteers Gary Ofstedahl and Cameron Olsen in front of the freshly painted house.
About 10 volunteers from Westminster Presbyterian Church worked on Vaughn’s house. They painted the exterior, replaced boards and the front steps, and worked on the garage and shed.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Vaughn said. “I wish I had a way to repay them.”
She applied for the program a month ago after hearing about it at Habitat for Humanity’s Restore in Austin. All interested homeowners fill out an application, which is then reviewed to determine if they qualify.
“It’s an excellent program,” Vaughn said. “It’s been needed in Austin for a long time.”
Although volunteers from the group, like Ofstedahl, usually travel to different states in need to work on homes, they decided to work on projects within the community this summer as well.
“We can involve more people [this way],” Ofstedahl said.
According to Ofstedahl, CHIP is not only a good way to help the community, but build friendships as well.
“It’s fantastic,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of fun.”
CHIP is still looking for applicants.
