Volunteers band together for rebuilding

More than 100 help make 6 homes energy-efficient

HOLLYWOOD — Lily Grampus just wants to sit on her porch. With the help of some volunteers, that soon will be a reality.

Rebuilding Together St. Paul's Parish is the local affiliate of the national organization that works to preserve and restore homes by providing free home repairs to needy families.

This year, Rebuilding Together has partnered with the American Petroleum Institute to sponsor its Energy Efficient Homes Initiative.

Volunteers with St. Paul's Parish worked round-the-clock Saturday to complete repairs to Grampus' house off Toogoodoo Road, off S.C. Highway 162, in Hollywood. The house was falling into disrepair and her monthly energy bills were rising.

Organizers hope to save the Grampus household hundreds of dollars with energy-efficient home modifications, including new windows, roof repairs, siding and insulation under the house.

Much to her delight, volunteers also built Grampus, 74, a new porch with wheelchair ramp access.

"That's what I always wanted," Grampus said. "To sit out on the porch and watch people go by instead of being in this house all the time. So that's a blessing."

More than 100 volunteers worked on Saturday to renovate five other homes nearby. Program organizers ultimately want to make homes more livable for residents, said Steven Herman, St. Paul's board president.

Herman always looks forward to the once-a-year event. He knows that most of the families that receive the home renovations cannot afford repairs otherwise.

"These people, they have critical needs that aren't being met," he said.

Hope Lanier, a lobbyist for the American Petroleum Institute, said she thinks the efforts of Rebuilding Together will go a long way toward saving energy and money for families throughout the state.

"When you are looking at homes like this with obvious needs, and there's the ability to bring in volunteers to work together to address these identifiable problems, it makes a world of difference," Lanier said.

The organization has rebuilt 90 houses locally during the past decade with the help of more than 7,000 hours of volunteer time.

Reach Jasiri Whipper at jwhipper@postandcourier.com or 745-5863.