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Police Volunteer to Revitalize Neighborhood

Midland Daily News

Midland Police swarmed around a West Carpenter Street home Tuesday, stationed on the roof and at front and back porches. But this visit wasn’t a raid — it was all in the name of volunteering.

The group, including the department’s chief, deputy chief, officers and even some of their wives, was organized by Officer Robert Booth to participate in the Habitat for Humanity Great Lakes Bay Neighborhood Revitalization Project.

“We appreciate the community support,” Booth said during a break from nailing shingles. “It’s just our way of giving back.”

In addition to the new roof at 306 W. Carpenter, the group also was rebuilding the home’s small front porch. The home’s gutters were on the list for replacement as well.

Owner Renee O’Brien watched the work from a lawn chair stationed in her garage, while answering questions for volunteers seeking tools and supplies.

“I was very blessed,” she said of being chosen to participate in the revitalization project. “This work needed to be done and I didn’t have the money.”

To get involved, O’Brien said all she had to do was fill out an application she received in the mail.

As she watched, a group of officers braved the heights of the rooftop to peel shingles off and send them over the edge to tarps waiting on the ground. A crew made up of their wives and more volunteers hauled off the debris to a waiting trash bin. In another area of the roof, more officers worked together to hand up shingles and get them nailed down. Around front, a detective was in the thick of things with the rebuilding of the front porch.

This is the second time Booth has led a group of fellow police to volunteer in the event, something which is right up his alley as the owner of Badge Construction. He said his plan is to keep giving back to the community by taking part in the Habitat for Humanity project.

“I think it’s awesome to have the police do the work,” O’Brien said of the volunteering. “It’s nice seeing them here and not pulling me over.”

The sentiment earned laughs from Lt. Steve London as he cut shingles. He said last year, the police volunteers worked at the 1016 House, rebuilding the fire escape and back deck on a hot, sweltering day. “It was miserable last year,” he said of the weather, contrasting it with this year’s cool, overcast kickoff day.

O’Brien’s home, which she has owned for seven years, was just one of 25 that will receive attention this week from some of the more than 500 volunteers who are participating.

Mark Camilleri, who teaches biology at Midland Public Schools, is a longtime volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, and cheerfully explained the ropes.

Not only does the organization build entire homes for needy families, it also puts together the community revitalization project. That can include roof replacements, scraping and painting wood homes, staining decks and fences, building porches and handicap ramps, repairs to vinyl siding, plus window and door installation. Contractors are hired to install gutters and trim trees.

All permits are obtained, and the city’s building inspector also was on hand to make sure work was being done correctly, Camilleri said.

“We really want to make a good relationship with our homeowners,” he said, motioning toward O’Brien. “It’s just wonderful.”

This is the fourth Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative Project, and the second year the group has focused in the Carpenter school area.

Sponsors and supporters include: The Dow Chemical Company, City of Midland, Valspar Paint, Ayre/Rhinehart Realtors, Chemical Bank, Pepsi Company, Steve Witt –State Farm, Bierlein, Garber Chevrolet, Great Lakes Bay Construction, Inc., Lowe’s, Pat’s Gradall, Fischer Companies, Community Construct, Servinski Sod Service, Brandle Roofing, MidMichigan Health, Great Lakes Safety Training Center, Grounds for a Better World, Big Apple Bagel, Once Upon A Wedding Cake, Target, St. John’s Lutheran Church, First United Methodist, Trinity Lutheran Church, Memorial Presbyterian Church, Gordonville United Methodist Church, Chapel Lane Presbyterian Church, Our Savior of Midland, Dow Corning, Allis Information Management, Clear River Advertising & Marketing, Styron, Members First Credit Union, Leadership Midland Alumni Association, Midland City Police.

The closing ceremony will be at 4 p.m. Aug. 9 with brief remarks from Rich Wells, vice president and site director for Dow Michigan Operations. The staging area is on the playground of Carpenter Elementary School, 1407 Carpenter St.

For more information, go to www.199.167.253.130

Midland County Habitat for Humanity