SARATOGA COUNTY

Thirty homes set for repairs by service group

Nancy Bisenius said Friday she feels as if a fairy godmother has been assigned to her after her home was one of 30 chosen for improvements this year through Rebuilding Together Saratoga County.

More than 400 volunteers will be involved in demolition and construction projects this weekend and next under the direction of the not-for-profit organization.

A list is generated each year of elderly, low-income and disabled county residents who need assistance in making repairs to their homes, according to Rebuilding Together President Michelle Larkin.

"We have homes throughout the county where we will send as many as 50 volunteers to work," she said.

Bisenius, 66, of Milton, said she has an older model mobile home, and since her husband died two years ago, it's been difficult for her to keep up with maintenance.

"[The volunteers] are going to repair my bathroom floor and my living room floor, which were damage! d when water pipes broke during the winter," she said.

"They've already delivered a new back door for me and four new windows that actually have storms on them."

She said other windows have been ordered for the trailer but had not been delivered as of Friday afternoon.

Larkin, a founding member of the Saratoga County chapter of the national Rebuilding Together organization, said between $30,000 and $50,000 worth of materials will be used as volunteers build, repair and renovate living spaces and three not-for-profit locations.

The interior of the Greater Schuylerville Youth Center will be repainted, and a door and several windows will be replaced today.

Village Mayor John Sherman said Friday he appreciated the assistance from Rebuilding Together because the village and the youth commission have limited funds.

"This is a place where kids from throughout the Schuylerville [Central] School District can come and watch ! a movie or play a game or use the computer," Sherman said.

T he building has a pool table and other games as well as picnic tables and a corner with a sofa and chairs in front of a television set.

"Most everything you see here was donated," Sherman said. "There isn't much of a budget."

He said students and teachers from the school were registered to provide the labor for today's renovation projects.

Larkin said most of the volunteers are not skilled laborers.

"We love to hear from contractors who are willing to help us out," she said.

The main sponsor of the group is the Saratoga Builders Association, which provided $25,000 raised during the winter's Showcase of Homes fundraiser in which home tours are given.

"The money raised was given to us and Habitat for Humanity," said Rebuilding Together board member Marian Bigelow.

She said a number of companies that give money to the programs, including State Farm Insurance and Sunmark Credit Union, also have employees who v! olunteer to work.

She said the project homes are often suggested by people at senior citizen centers and through charitable organizations throughout the county.

"We do quite a bit of outreach with organizations that know people in the community who could use a little help," she said.

Bisenius said she found out about the program through the Economic Council in Saratoga Springs.

"I called about the weatherization program, but they couldn't help me with the floors or my leaky roof," she said. "I feel very blessed that [Rebuilding Together] will be coming to fix my problems."

Reach Gazette reporter Kathy Parker at 885-6705 or