Rebuilding Together

For more than 43 years, Versie Perkins collected experiences and memories in her family home at 2714 N. Olney Street in Indianapolis. She raised four children here, including two sons who were part of the first African American class to graduate from Perry Meridian High School in the 1980s.

Now, at age 75 and suffering with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Versie is unable to do the necessary repairs to the home she’s loved for more than four decades. Her toilet had been broken for three months, her 30-year-old washing machine had quit working, the landscaping around the house and become overgrown, the brickwork needed repairs…among several other issues.

Just a few blocks away, at 2618 N. Parker Street, 71-year-old Willie Walker has always enjoyed fixing things up around his house “to make them look pretty.” But with a limited income, Willie has been unable to add and improve the landscaping around his home.

So, thanks to The Hagerman Group and many others who volunteered for this year’s “Rebuilding Together” project, Versie’s home got the updates it needed, and Willie received the “pretty” landscaping he’d dreamed of.

Nearly 15 Hagerman employees, friends, and family, participated in the project last Saturday, despite rain, storms, and cold temperatures. “We are all blessed to have our health and the ability and skills to help others who need it,” said Greg Delagrange, Hagerman Group’s House Captain. “There’s a sense of pride in helping out the elderly and disabled by providing our services.”

Greg’s been involved with Rebuilding Together for four years, but this is his first year as House Captain. In this new role, Greg invested many hours in the project. Some of his responsibilities included collecting all the tools, equipment and materials needed; meeting with the homeowners over a four-week period to do a needs analysis to put together and present a plan; and coordinating Hagerman volunteers.

Hagerman employees who volunteered were Mike Blount, Jeremy Denton, Kent Foreman, Dave McMath, Jeff Schroeder, April Simmons, Kim Spry, and Evan Sutton. Each spent hours doing whatever was asked of them, from tuckpointing bricks, painting, and landscaping, to building a new fence and replacing door hardware.

Rebuilding Together preserves and revitalizes houses and communities, assuring that low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled and families with children, may continue to live in warmth, safety and independence.

The homeowners are deeply appreciative of the efforts and accomplishments of all the volunteers. Willie says “The volunteers are wonderful, taking time out of their lives to do something for others. He says he wants to give all the volunteers a “big hug.”

Stephanie Torr

Director of Business Development