Once I composed myself, I went back inside and hugged everyone.  My first question was why me?  Craig tells me that during a meeting for “Just One Day” a member mentioned my name as a person in the community that organizes many fundraisers for locals in desperate need of financial support due to illness and other unforeseen hardships. She has a home that needs attention that is way out of her financial means. 

I do these fundraisers because I can’t afford to support folks with a monetary donation. I live a simple life on a modest income, but I can rally the troops and make sure those in need get the help they deserve.

Craig then arranged a home visit, local contractors stopped by and looked over my 100-year-old home.  Craig asked me what I wanted done. I could only come up with replacing the knob and tube wiring because my insurance company was going to reject me on renewal. 

Craig came back a few days later and told me “Just One Day” was not only going to replace the wiring, but they were also going to replace the old asphalt shingle siding that was deteriorating and replace the supporting beams under my barn/garage which was significantly leaning to the right and in danger of falling over.

The hard task of stripping off the old siding began with a large group of volunteers one day when I was at work. I worked until 10 that night

so couldn’t really see what was left underneath the old shingles.  First thing in the morning I walked outside and saw this beautiful clapboard siding that had been hidden.  My heart exploded with joy.  A few hours later Graig stopped by and informed me that we wouldn’t have to use aluminum siding, we could paint the original siding.  I had no idea what color to paint the house, so Craig introduced me to Rick who had volunteered to not only buy the paint but help me chose a color.

I met with Rick at the local builder’s supply, in my mind I am thinking I don’t like yellow.  Rick chooses Lemon Meringue for the siding with crème Brule for the trim and zucchini green for the barn door and porch floor, all food colors which amused me, and I thought just go with it, he’s the expert.

A few days later I came home from work and found they had painted that day, and I couldn’t believe my eyes, the brightest yellow and the happiest looking house in the neighborhood.  You know I cried again.

The new electric wiring was then installed, making my home much safer and insurance compliant.

The task of jacking up and the barn was a slow methodical process, I really had no idea how bad it was leaning until I crawled underneath with the contractor.  It now stands straight and proud.

They didn’t stop there and decided to bring in a local landscaper to prune my apple trees, remove some rocks that made mowing difficult and remove a large cement block firepit that had started to crumble significantly. 

This process was effortless on my part, I can never repay the generosity of the volunteers that made this happen, but I will be sure to volunteer myself on their next project.  

I will forever be grateful for the Sargent Family and the “Just One Day” organization for removing my worry and stress and saving me from financial ruin or worse, it changed my life forever.  It still feels like a dream.

~ Karen Seamon