Construction stopped, and, for the next dozen years, the doorless, windowless structure off Smith Bridge Road sat open, weathering nature's furies. But the site was filled with life Saturday as about two dozen volunteers with the Saratoga County affiliate of Rebuilding Together braved the chilly rain to hammer fresh planks of wood to the graying frame. Cindy Vincek yelled above the sounds of power saws and nail guns Saturday as she explained how, hours earlier, volunteer construction workers pushed one end of her house back together. The partially constructed home, sitting in the midst of her family's sprawling farm in Wilton, has special meaning to her.

In 1994, her father, George, started framing it. He even outfitted her bedroom with a large window space overlooking a pony pasture.

Soon after Christmas that year, though, Dad died suddenly of a brain aneurysm.

Vincek, 24, a secretary at Saratoga Hospital, struggled to describe her reaction to being selected as a project for the nonprofit group. She had only recently heard of the group through her attorney, Emily Muller.

"I'm so thankful. Standing there, watching them this morning in the pouring rain, it's just unbelievable that there's good, kind people like that," Vincek said. "My father's hand is in this somehow. It's definitely a gift from God."

Vincek's is one of a dozen homes in the county getting a new look, thanks to the efforts of more than 250 volunteers, as well as residents and businesses who donated tens of thousands of dollars and construction materials, said Michelle Larkin, chapter president.

The national organization, which targets low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners, chooses April for its rebuilding projects. On April 30, 275,000 volunteers nationwide will help rehabilitate 8,700 homes as part of National Rebuilding Day.

Larkin and her husband, Dan, started the chapter in late 2003.

"It's amazing to me that it's taken off and done so well in such a short amount of time," Dan said. "It's a testament to the generosity of individuals and companies who donate their time and money."

He described Vincek's story as unique. Most of the projects, he said, are smaller and benefit senior citizens.

"This is stretching our mandate and scope, but I'm glad we are," he said. "Fundamentally, it's a desire to serve others who are disadvantaged and give back to the community."

In Schuylerville, volunteers clung to the sides of an elderly woman's two-story house like insects. Teens and adults wearing white Rebuilding Together T-shirts scraped away an aging coat of blue exterior paint. Others ran wood through table saws to rebuild the front porch.

Inside, volunteers slathered walls with white paint and installed ceiling tile supports.

"It's a good opportunity, not only as a resume-builder, but it helps the community," said rookie volunteer Myles Haire, 15, a sophomore at Schuylerville Junior-Senior High School, who was working alongside his father, Marty.

Marian Bigelow, project co-captain, said the widowed homeowner couldn't afford the repairs.

"In Saratoga County, everybody thinks about the horseracing and wealthy people," she said. "There's a lot of people who need help."

Bigelow said volunteers will prime and paint the house next weekend.

"It's going to be another beehive," she said. "It's a big community project."

Capital News 9
April 24, 2004

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