Christmas comes early for Los Gatos resident
By Nate Huff
Santa Claus must have carpooled with the Easter Bunny in April, since Christmas came early for long-time Los Gatos resident Peggy Smith.
"Christmas in April," a volunteer organization that helps repair homes of low-income and physically limited homeowners, selected the 62-year-old Smith as the Los Gatos beneficiary in a nationwide drive.
A horde of contractors, electricians, plumbers and volunteers descended on Smith's home April 29, installing a new door, a heater and a stove top, as well as repainting the interior, fixing the plumbing and making other miscellaneous repairs.
"I'm so excited," said Smith, who recently learned of the program. "My husband has been dead for 30 years and I raised the kids by myself so, financially, I haven't been able to make the repairs."
Christmas in April National Rebuilding Day is a nonprofit organization that assists low-income and physically limited homeowners to rehabilitate their homes into comfortable, safe and independent environments. The South Bay chapter of Christmas in April is helping to fix 21 homes and two nonprofit facilities in San Jose, Campbell, Los Gatos and Milpitas. Volunteers began chipping away at the list of repairs on April 22 and plan to finish the work on April 29.
This year 113 local residents applied for the Christmas in April program. Sarah Broz, executive director for the local chapter, said it's difficult to select applicants because the majority are worth while. The average age of residents who qualify for assistance is 72, and their average annual income is $15,297. Broz said applicants who are accepted gain back a sense of dignity after the project is completed.
"Safe and affordable housing is becoming an increasingly scarce resource in the Bay Area," Broz said. "We're looking forward to working with volunteers throughout the community to help alleviate that problem and to improve the day-to-day lives of hundreds of South Bay residents."
Each homeowner creates a wish list of home improvements such as interior and exterior painting, minor plumbing and electrical work, gardening, trash hauling, and window and door replacement. Smith said the group listened to her closely.
"They ask you what you need, and if it's possible, they do it," Smith said.
Broz said about 750 volunteers plan to pitch in on April 29. Many are from the local businesses that sponsor Christmas in April such as the city of San Jose Housing Department, Home Depot, Farrington Historical Foundation, Intel Corporation, Sobrato Family Foundation, The River Church Community and Exodus Communications Inc. The effort has generated about 37 major sponsors, sponsors and co-sponsors.
Smith said she especially enjoyed the mix of volunteers--from grandparents to young children. "The young kids that volunteer, you wouldn't believe," she said. "They work their tail off."
Smith has been a Los Gatos resident for over 50 years, and has lived at her present home off Lark Avenue for 35 years. Her neighbor George Shannon, another long-time resident whose kids grew up with Smith's, donated new blinds to the rebuilding effort.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
