Photograph by Chad Pilster

Mirror Man: Dave Smith of Sunnyvale removes an old mirror from Louise Barcelona's home.




Keeping Up Appearances

'Christmas in April' project fixes homes, helps needy live in comfort and dignity

By Chantal Lamers

Behind seven-foot high rose bushes that bloom in lavender, pink, yellow and red, stands an olive-green house. Weeds stretch out from under the bushes and reach for Auzerais Avenue. An orange kitten sits nearby among rusted folding chairs and an overflowing garbage can.

This is the home of 84-year-old San Jose resident Louise Barcelona. With her white hair pulled back into a long ponytail and green earrings dangling from her lobes, Barcelona plants her feet on the green shag carpet of the home between Willow Glen and downtown San Jose where she's lived for the past 45 years. Since she hasn't been able to take care of her house on her own these days, about 15 volunteers have spent their Saturdays making repairs and improvements for her.

Christmas in April National Rebuilding Day is a nonprofit organization that assists low-income and physically limited homeowners in rehabilitating their homes into comfortable, safe and independent environments. This April, the South Bay chapter of Christmas in April will help 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 on finishing the work on April 29.

This year, 113 local residents applied for help by the Christmas in April crew. Sarah Broz, executive director for the local chapter, says it's difficult to select applicants because the majority are worthwhile. Broz says that applicants who are accepted regain a sense of dignity after the project is completed.

"Safe and affordable housing is becoming an increasingly scarce resource in the Bay Area," Broz says. "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."

The average age of residents who qualify for assistance is 72. Average annual income is $15,297.

Each homeowner creates a wish list of home improvements, like interior and exterior painting, minor plumbing and electrical work, gardening, trash hauling, and window and door replacement.


Photograph by Chad Pilster

Brushing Up: Rene Gamino paints a doorframe at the Palomarez home.




Barcelona has lived with her son in her three-bedroom house since her divorce. She says that once the volunteer crew is finished repainting her house, replacing the leaking bathroom sink, trimming the bushes, tearing the faded gold wallpaper off the walls and installing a new doorbell, she won't be so embarrassed to have company over.

Barcelona supports herself and her disabled son on monthly Social Security checks. She and her husband divorced 20 years ago. "When you're a woman alone, it's hard," she says. "I've really had to struggle because I never remarried."

Broz says about 750 volunteers plan to pitch in on April 29. Many volunteers are provided by 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.

Monica Montenegro, volunteer coordinator for the Barcelona project, works for the Mountain View accounting firm KPMG. The firm is sponsoring Barcelona's home, pitching in to supply the materials necessary to fix up the worn-down home.

Electricians and plumbers are brought in to do minor professional work, and other volunteers will help pull weeds and put a fresh coat of beige paint over the faded olive green.

Montenegro is impressed with the people who volunteer their time, coming to the rescue of people in need. "It's pretty amazing," she says.

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