Posted on November 22, 2011 by staci
Danny, a 57 year-old Vietnam veteran living in Colerain Township believes he has received a new lease on life because of the efforts of People Working Cooperatively.
Once very active, Danny's life has become increasingly more sedentary after he was diagnosed with MS two years ago. Danny recalls the struggles he faced “having to (scoot) up and down the steps on my rear end…I couldn’t get out of the house at all”. Conditions for Danny worsened when he began to lose his eyesight to a rare illness known as Best disease. Danny’s fellow veterans, who are also disabled, were not able to visit him because his house was not accessible and Danny was forced into isolation. “My life just stopped”, Danny said .
This all changed when Danny came across an article in the newspaper about PWC’s weatherization program. It was during this weatherization program that Danny found out about People Working Cooperatively’s Modifications for Mobility program. “I was just tickled when I found out I could get a ramp”, said Danny. This ramp ALLOWS Danny to leave the house and enables his friends to come and visit him at his home. “PWC has given me my life back”.
Last year, PWC helped 16,000 people just like Danny who were just looking for a hand up, not a hand out. Our typical clients earn approximately $13,000 a year and suffer from illness, disabilities, and the struggles of aging. Your support can give them mobility and give them back their life.
Any gift, no matter how small, can change a life like Danny’s. By making a gift to the Annual Campaign, you will directly help your disabled neighbors live their lives with dignity. Please donate today.
Posted on November 18, 2011 by
For the second weekend in a row, People Working Cooperatively volunteers and staff will make a difference in the lives of elderly and disabled homeowners.
But this time, PWC is working in Richmond, Indiana, a city in Wayne County that’s about an hour and a half northwest of Cincinnati. 2011 marks the second year that PWC has hosted Prepare Affair in Richmond, and we’re hoping the fall volunteer event continues to grow!
PWC President Jock Pi
tts told the Palladium-Item, “This year, we have more homeowners signed up and we are looking for volunteers to get involved.” Pitts told the Richmond newspaper that we’re looking to prepare 30 homes for winter this Saturday, Nov. 19.
Sponsors for the Richmond-based Prepare Affair are Vectren and First Bank Richmond. Similar to this past week in Greater Cincinnati, volunteers will be raking leaves and cleaning gutters to help homeowners in need prepare their homes for winter.
Photo to the left: Volunteers Maggie and RJ Keller, client Mary Porch and her grandson Max, and PWC volunteer Jere McIntyre smile for the camera after raking leaves during the 2010 Prepare Affair in Richmond.
Posted on November 11, 2011 by
In the midst of Prepare Affair, People Working Cooperatively President Jock Pitts took a moment to share the results of the first phase of our Cadmus research study with local news radio 91.7 WVXU.
The recent evaluation conducted by the Economics Center at the University of Cincinnati, along with Boston-based The Cadmus Group, showed the impact PWC is making in the community. The study shows when PWC did its work in one of its three core areas – emergency repairs, energy conservation or modifying a house for someone who's disabled – the value of the home increased 6 to 10 percent.
In addition, Jock informed WVXU reporter Mark Heyne that the homes PWC serves are not the only ones that increase in value.
“The exhaustive research learned that homes surrounding it in the neighborhood increased between 2 and 4 percent," said Jock.
With PWC’s long history in the Greater Cincinnati community, we were delighted to read the findings from the Cadmus research study that shows PWC’s work has positively affected the Tri-State area.
The results from the Cadmus research study are inspiration for us to continue to make a difference. We will continue providing professional, critical home repairs, weatherization, modification, and maintenance services to help residents stay safely in their homes.
To read more on Jock’s interview with 91.7 WVXU, visit wvxu.org or tune into WVXU this Saturday to hear his full interview.
“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead