In partnership with The Repository, every Monday, Stark Community Foundation highlights positive happenings in our community. Here’s to Good News Mondays!
What began as a dream of founders Darlene and Mike Leghart has developed into a ministry that has helped thousands of disadvantaged individuals in Stark County.
Hammer & Nails is celebrating 25 years of serving homeowners in need in our community.
The organization assists with an array of home repair and maintenance services for free — focusing on interior and exterior carpentry, painting and the installation of aluminum wheelchair ramps that meet ADA requirements.
This assistance has been life-changing for many individuals who might have otherwise had to leave their homes due to the inability to maintain them, afford necessary repairs or make modifications that accommodate their changing physical needs.
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Hammer & Nails started as a temporary ministry when North Industry Christian Church partnered with Group WorkCamps to host a week-long camp in 1995 to assist disadvantaged Stark County homeowners. The success of the camp, along with encouragement from the community, led to the creation of Hammer & Nails Inc. as a nonprofit organization in 1999.
Already this year, Hammer & Nails has completed 208 projects at 35 households, including 51 wheelchair ramp installations and nine ramp relocations. Since inception, the organization has helped more than 2,000 total homeowners.
“As we celebrate 2024, and the 25 years of Hammer & Nails’ history leading up to it, we embrace this year's statistics showing how homes are being repaired and lives are being changed because of neighbors serving neighbors in Stark County,” said Sara Handy, Hammer & Nails community relations specialist.
To receive assistance, residents submit project applications, and the team determines eligibility and assesses the extent of repairs needed. Once approved to receive assistance, the homeowner is added to the project list and the project is started once Hammer & Nails secures the funding and volunteers with the required skill set to complete the job.
With applications for assistance arriving daily, this service in our community is needed now more than ever. There are currently 250 applicants on the organization’s waiting list.
The wheelchair ramps installed and maintained by the organization are especially unique, as they remain the property of Hammer & Nails so that each can be gifted and used by several homeowners as long as it remains functional.
After serving with the organization for 20 years, longtime volunteers Jim and Don note: "Assisting those in our local communities is just as crucial as going on mission trips. Some homeowners might need help with repairs because of their age, health or lack of support. Helping others is a noble pursuit."
Given a project’s wide range of tasks, volunteers do not need to have prior construction experience to assist Hamer & Nails. The organization also has a wish list of items, from trash bags to paint tray liners to smoke detectors, that are appreciated as donations and help stretch its funding and complete as many projects as possible.
Visit www.hammerandnails.org to see this wish list and learn more about Hammer & Nails’ projects.
Stark Community Foundation helps individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits achieve their philanthropic goals. . Learn more at www.starkcf.org .
This article originally appeared on The Repository: The Heart of Stark: Hammer & Nails celebrates 25 years of repairing houses and giving hope
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