My Work Day Experience

My first day as a volunteer with Extreme Community Makeover (ECM) was on August 9, 2014, in the Barnum neighborhood of Denver. I am a new volunteer with the Communications Team. My assignment was to check out a Work Day and blog about my experience.

ECM works with volunteers to deliver on the organization’s two-pronged mission to spruce up neighborhoods and strengthen relationships within communities. The organization’s slogan, “building tomorrow . . . one block at a time” encompasses both.

Two weeks before our August 9 Work Day, a crew went out to residents in the Barnum neighborhood (between Ellsworth and 1st Avenue along Winona Street) to ask residents if they had any outside projects they needed help completing. Residents committed to pitch in whatever materials and labor they could for painting, landscaping, and debris removal projects. A list of projects was put together and two weeks later a group of volunteers showed up, along with additional materials and a gigantic dumpster. This cycle repeats every two weeks. 

While volunteers were sprucing up the Barnum neighborhood, another crew was out in one of ECM’s other target neighborhoods setting up for the Work Day on August 23. By the end of its 2014 season, ECM will have completed 60+ Work Days across the city!

There were 15 homes on the list for August 9. Projects included weed removal, mowing, tree trimming, general yard work, and painting. I spent some time with a couple of the homeowners.

Kelly moved into her house on Winona Street about a year ago and is fixing up the inside. She needed help getting the exterior of her house painted (the whole house in a day). Without skipping a beat, volunteers helped her finish scraping and prepping the house for painting. Just as Kelly went to pick up the paint sprayer, the weather turned stormy so she ended up painting about half of the house with friends and relatives on Sunday. ECM always offers to help finish projects if the homeowners need it. 

  

Up the block, Miguel also just purchased his house after his sister Emma and brother-in-law Jorge convinced him of the benefits of home ownership such as financial stability, the ability to borrow against an asset if needed, and the tax deduction for interest expense. Like Kelly, Miguel is fixing up the inside of the house for his family before they move in. The kids aren’t too impressed with how long it takes to fix things up, but the house is coming along. Miguel, Emma, Jorge, and several other family members were working alongside volunteers to trim trees, pull weeds, and clean up debris.

 

Emma also made burritos to feed volunteers. Emma says, “We are like this. You help us and we want to do something to give back.” She was surprised to learn that ECM was feeding volunteers and residents lunch at Bethany United Methodist Church, the community partner hosting the Work Day. Lunch is a big part of building relationships in the community. So, I urged Emma to take the family to lunch and bring the burritos. 

All in all, I enjoyed my Work Day experience and I am looking forward spending more time getting to know and creating relationships with ECM volunteers and Denver residents. 

~Mary J., Communications Team 

Video Testimonial 

*ECM serves eight Denver neighborhoods: Barnum, Elyria, Globeville, La Alma/Lincoln Park, Swansea, Villa Park, West Colfax, and Westwood.