BRANFORD — With cooler nights and the winter chill on the horizon, veteran Keith Brooks said he is feeling fortunate to have new insulated windows in his home.
“This is a blessing,” said Brooks, standing outside his DeForest Drive home on a sunny fall day as volunteers worked on his home.
The work project is part of Stamford-based HomeFront’s Home, Safe Home campaign to improve living conditions for 80 local families this year who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program also provides free home repairs to people who cannot afford to maintain their home or are physically unable to do so, through volunteers.
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“I’m so grateful because of the fact that somebody’s doing something good for me. I’ve been through a lot the last few years,” Blake said.
The pop of nail guns and whir of drills could be heard while some eight parishioners from St. John Bosco Parish in Branford worked from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 23, to replace 15 windows and clean out his basement.
Brooks served in the U.S. Coast Guard. His wife, Margaret, died in 2020 of cancer and Brooks,74, has been having financial trouble, he said. He recently pulled up all the carpet in his house and the drafty windows were original to the 40-year-old house.
“I’m pretty handy with my hands, but it’s gotten difficult because I’m dealing with a pinched nerve right now,” Brooks said. “But I’ll never leave this house. I’ve been here for 40 years and this is home.”
Sean O’Brien, executive director of HomeFront explained the importance of the work the organization does, especially right now.
“What we’re trying to do is to try and keep this health crisis we’re in from becoming a housing crisis, too,” he said, surveying the work.
“We know it’s been very hard on the economy and for people to be able to hold onto their homes, so we’re trying to do our part,” he added. “This is all part and parcel of that.”
Most of the furniture in the house was rearranged to make more workable space.
Paul Paquin and Jim Schmaltz worked in Brooks’ bedroom installing vinyl, insulated thermal pane replacement windows.
“It feels good, it’s the right thing to do,” said Schmaltz.
“I appreciate all the veterans do and we’re trying to give back a little bit with what we can,” the Madison resident said.
While Paquin is a general contractor, Schmaltz said he is handy or tries to be, at least.
“I make my living here, so it’s nice to give back to the people who give to you,” he said.
While the two worked side by side, working to fit the window into the allotted space, rock music blared in the background.
Paquin has been working with Homefront for 20 years.
“The people who get the windows are being rewarded, but as Jim and I know, doing the work you get rewarded also,” the Branford resident said.
“It’s kind of do unto others,” he added. “Believing in karma, spiritual, being good, being kind, which this world needs a lot of.”
Downstairs, Rick Burns and Nick Borrero worked on installing a picture window. Using a power nail gun Borrero secured the window after he and Burns meticulously worked to line it up perfectly.
“I live in Branford, so it’s nice to be able to give back a little, especially for the veterans,” said Borrero. “I love to do anything I can for them.”
“A little paint, a little caulking and it’ll be good as new,” said Burns as the two stood with Matthew Hally looking at their progress.
Burns, a Vietnam vet, was more than happy to help a fellow vet.
“Anytime you give of yourself, you feel better,” he said.
Working outside the home, Jerry Staunton and Matthew Hally worked to separate the odds and ends taken from the basement cleanup into piles to be disposed of, metal and recyclables.
They worked side by side filling the back of Hally’s truck with items to be delivered to the dump.
Earlier in the day, Staunton worked with Brooks to clear the basement of unused clutter. He said “probably a good half of the basement” was removed, including “wood pallets to rims and cabinets.”
“I went through it with him,” he added. “He would point out what he wanted out and then I took it out.”
Project sponsors included St. John Bosco Parish, Branford; The Norbert H. Hardner Foundation, Amherst, N.H., The Office for Catholic Social Justice of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Bloomfield and The Home Depot Foundation, Atlanta, Ga.
“We get so many requests for help and we work really hard to try and help as many as we can,” said O’Brien. “So, when we see it all coming together like this, it never gets old.”
Contact Sarah Page Kyrcz at [email protected]
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