(for a closer look, click on the photo album and newsletter links above or ask about scrapbook full of photos & stories)

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1998 (July 25-Aug 1)
3 Participants - Wendy Trares, Dan Fejes, Ben Kotkowski w/group from OLPH, Aurora
Projects & Activities:  Sally's installation of drinking water tank, insulated plumbing, built 2 sets of steps, made gravel walkways.



 

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1999 (July 31-Aug. 7)
20 Particpants - Wendy & George Trares, Bob, Kathy & Dan Fejes, Erin Tayerle, Jim Fields, Ken Puchowicz, Ben, Alice & Ross Kotkowski, Tom Horvath, Lauren & Allyson Krupar, Barbara Jaynes, Linda Dvorak, Marie & Erin Minard, Bill Curtin, Alex Kavouras
Projects & Activities:  Connie's roof; Rita Belle's painting, flooring, fireproof wallboard around stove; Aurora's deck/ramp; Johnny & Mary's porch roof, replacement / painting of crawl space wood (near Dorothy Baker House) [Breaks Inter-State Park; Ken Childress; pool party at parishioner's home; John Porter, former coal miner; Geraldine Scardo, chip mill industry]

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2000 (June 10-17)
4 Participants - Linda Dvorak, Dan Fejes, Erin Tayerle, Erin Minard
Details unknown.

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2000 (July 29-Aug. 5)
17 Participants - Wendy, George, Kathi Trares, Erin Tayerle, T.J. Dick, Jim Fields, Erin & Marie Minard, Bill Curtin, Alex Kavouras, Aaron Burnett, Lauren Krupar, Ben, Liz, Alice & Ross Kotkowski, Dan Fejes, Megan Zuver

Projects & Activities:  Billy & Myrtle Mullins' ramp (rolled roofing); Nina's deck re-staining, trailer skirting repainting, wiring, roof gooping; Sandra DeLouch caulking, electrical, window blinds, clean-up; roof on hill; wiring @ Dorothy Baker House/Church & Ralph Stanley's homestead [visited Breaks State Park; attended Dickenson County Fair - Danny & the Jrs.]
 

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2001 (July 28-Aug. 4)
19 Participants - Erin & Marie Minard, Linda Dvorak, Jennifer Sweet, Dan Fejes, Wendy, Kathi & George Trares, Erin Tayerle, Liz, Alice, Ben & Ross Kotkowski, Cheryl Reville, Jim Fields, Alex Kavouras, Lauren Krupar, Dan Fejes, Megan Zuver (stayed all summer)
Projects & Activities:  Josie Rose's painting outside of house, bathroom, utility room; Rebel Spahn's flooring & window caulking; Jarvis' phone line, rat-wire, AC; railing on white house; bedroom ceiling, gutters (house w/methane smell; lady on oxygen); emergency roof & bedroom ceiling; (attended Dickenson County Fair-Ralph Stanley) Ben's Transmission died [Ben & Alice sun burnt/heat exhaustion]

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2002 (June 29- July 6)
4 Participants - Marie & Erin Minard, Bill Curtin, Erin Tayerle (not Trares' - Boston)
Details unknown.

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2003 (June 28-July 5)
9 Participants - George, Kathi, James & Jeff Trares, Bill Curtin, Dan Fejes, Barb, Mike & Courtney Shilling
Projects & Activities:  Susan Adams - painting newly installed cabinets and walls and ceiling, lining the inside of the cabinets with scrap linoleum after taking care of an ant problem, installed GFCI outlets in kitchen and bath, replaced front door, trim was added to kitchen window and front door, screen door repairs; Delmar Baker Trailer - removed old carpeting, reinforced a bedroom floor, removed and replaced the bathroom sink and cabinet, put down luan and linoleum on the kitchen, hallway and bathroom floors, fixed kitchen plumbing (dishes were being done in the bathtub), added a drain pipe to the refrigerator, installed closet shelf brackets, lined inside of cabinets with scrap linoleum, installed a door for hot water heater area, replaced a fuse box door and repaired electrical outlets, carpeted the girls' bedroom, caulked, installed molding, patched porch roof leaks, finished putting insulation under the trailer, and added temporary steps for the back door (Trares enjoyed 4th festivities)

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2004 - No Participants

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2005 (June 25-July 2)
8 Participants - George, Kathi, James & Jeff Trares, Jessica Lovick, Bill Curtin, Barb & Mike Shilling
Projects & Activities:  Sr. Bernie's kitchen floor, counter top w/sink; basement clean-up & patio floor, shed steps, re-staining railing, building patio block walkways / steps (toured Health Wagon, 4th World Movement presentation)


 

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2006 (June 24-July 1)   
10 Participants - George, Kathi, James & Jeff Trares, Jessica Lovick, Bill Curtin, Paul, Barb & Mike Shilling, Linda Dvorak
Projects & Activities:  Chris & Misty's roof & porches, kitchen ceiling & painting, installing window; Bill replaced locks at Health Wagon & installed light at Kennedy's home (coal mining talk, Fanelli's 4th World Movement facility completion visit, videos)


 

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2007 (June 23-30)
12 Participants - George, Kathi & Jeff Trares, Mike, Barb & Jake Shilling, Renee Wiggins, Alex & Nate DeHoff, Andrew Burns, Brittany Pallay, Grayce Kesic
Projects & Activities:  Alpha's double wide on Reedy Ridge - water repairs; porch roof; powerwash & re-staining front & back porches; repairing, scraping & repainting porch railings; painting kitchen floor; caulking windows; painting gutters & down spouts (preparation for reinstallation later). Alma's modular home on Caney Ridge - building frames & installation of underpinning; replacement of ramp; installing French drain; adding another set of steps. (swimming, Fanelli's 4th World Movement Co-Op Learning Center's musicians' session, coal mining talk)
 

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2008 (June 21-28)
9 Participants - George, Kathi & Jeff Trares, Mike & Barb Shilling (from St. Joe's), Jackie Kable, Marisa Grondin, Amanda Scopilliti (from St. Ambrose, Garrettsville) & Toni Schill (from OLPH, Aurora)
Projects & Activities:  Wayne's 1927 family home 2 blocks from Dorothy Baker house in Clintwood - porch improvements (leveling, window and shutter installation, siding, painting), cleared brush and weeds from yard, defined flower beds and mulched, replaced wooden fence, painted metal lawn chairs, painted outside trim of windows, caulking, sorted and cleaned several rooms; mulched at Dorothy Baker House (hiking and paddle boats at Break's Inter-State Park, visited Fanelli's 4th World Movement Co-Op Learning Center & Sr. Bernie, enjoyed musicians and refreshments at MAW's - Mountain Art Works, coal mining talk)

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2009 (June 20-27)
4 Participants - George, Kathi & Jeff Trares, Barb Colin
Projects & Activities:  Ken Childress' 1911 family home - new wooden steps with railing to street & mailbox, 150+ block paver walkway with railing from front door to bridge to driveway, stepping stone path from front walkway to new steps, program workers scraped & painted front porch (toured Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center, parish picnic & entertainment, visited Fanelli's 4th World Movement Co-Op Learning Center, John W. Flannagan Dam & Reservoir, Birch Knob Observation Tower)
 

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2010 (Jun e 19-26)
6 Participants - George, Kathi, James & Jeff Trares, Mike Shilling, Jay D'Aurelio
Projects & Activities:  Finished up at previous week's home in Clintwood with window frame painting, staining stairs, covering hole in attic & putting up storm windows. Crystal's double-wide trailer with additions in Clinchco - replaced soft spots in living room and kitchen floors then installed stick on tiles; painting & caulking in bathroom, living room, hallway, kitchen & trim; applied sealer coating to roof; installed bathroom vanity, sink & toilet; replaced/added downspouting; added siding to outside; installed new outside door; repaired & reinforced doorway/step area; hung blinds in living room, mirror in bedroom; moved in donated couch & chair (hiking & paddle boats at Break's Inter-State Park, parish picnic, visited 4th World Movement Co-Op Learning Center, enjoyed "Pickin' in the Pound", Birch Knob Observation Tower)

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2011 (June 18-25)
7 Participants - Greg & Jay D'Aurelio, Mike Shilling, Ann & Paula Toothman, Corey Riggs, Ryan Bell, Patrick Myers, Dane Engelhart
Projects & Activities:  Faye's trailer flooring, under pinning, landscaping, painting trim & deck; Lucille & Bob's porch/deck bracing, siding on one side of house, scraping to get ready for next group; Catherine & husband's deck & ramp additions for gurney and dug ditch for water run off (Break's Inter-State Park, parish picnic & Ken Childress & Jimmy Mullins, coal miner talk, enjoyed "Pickin' in the Pound", Birch Knob Observation Tower, Jettie Baker Center entertainment)
7/24/11 - Ken Childress, folk singer and storyteller from Clintwood, VA, who passed away from a heart attack. He faithfully entertained groups each week who participated in the Housing Repair Program spring, summer, and fall. As one past participant put it so well, "Ken touched the hearts and funny bones of many people here in Portage County as well as the rest of the country. He will be missed but fondly remembered in our hearts."

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2012 (June 16-23)
11 Participants - Caitlin Chartier, Bill Curtin, Joe & Nate Daczko, Dane Engelhart, Dan & Sean Fejes, Mike Shilling, Patrick Myers, George & Kathi Trares
Projects & Activities:  Jason & Mandy's deck with steps, railing & roof and back porch. Joe's back porch decking, painting & skirting, rain barrel covers, down spouts attached, house washed. Larry & Lizzie's ramp attached to house. Cleaning & organizing of wood storage basement at Dorothy Baker House. (Break's Inter-State Park, parish picnic with Jimmy Mullins & Kathy Reynolds, 4th World Movement Center visit, enjoyed "Pickin' in the Pound", Birch Knob Observation Tower, Bear Pen Swimming Pool, bonfire at Sr. Jean's)
 

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2013 (June 15-22)
12 Participants - Nathan Bell, Caitlin, Jerry & Gerald Chartier, Bill & Brandon Curtin, Dan & Sean Fejes, Vince Festa, Dan Gooding, George & Kathi Trares
Projects & Activities:  Dorothy Baker House bathroom removal of old showers, replacing floor & window, prep for washer/dryer & flower beds; Jason & Mandy's new bedroom wall, door, window repairs, drywall & painting; Sr. Bernie's stairway improved with cement & wooden platforms; Billie and Ms. Vance's wider doorway to accommodate a wheelchair, electrical work and roof repairs, installed gutters and soffit, and back door replacement. (Break's Inter-State Park, parish picnic with Jimmy Mullins & Kathy Reynolds, 4th World Movement Center visit, enjoyed "Pickin' in the Pound" & Pickin' on the Porch")

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2014 (June 14-21)
10 Participants - Nathan Bell, Bill Curtin, Joe & Joey Daczko, Dan & Sean Fejes, Vince Festa, Jim Schweickert, George & Kathi Trares
Projects & Activities:  Reshingled roof of Loretta Cox’s double-wide trailer, replaced sheathing & ceiling on porch roof, added new souffet, roof vent, sealed vent pipes & chimney areas.
Power washed sidewalks & St. Joseph statue at church & Dorothy Baker House. Multiple projects at Karen Flint’s home including: mowing grass & weed whacking; cleaning up trash from yard; power washing deck, porch & house; replacing window screens & painting trim; repairs to porch & painting; adding railing to deck stairs & staining & adding drainage; painting front door; securing & cleaning gutters & downspouts; repairing toilet seat; replacing bathroom & hallway tile & painting trim; adding & repairing underpinning; expanding driveway turn-around & spreading gravel; repairing holes in linoleum; cleaning bedroom & making clear access to rear exit. (Parish Picnic with Jimmy Mullins & guest, coal mining talk with Larry Kennedy, trip to Birch Knob area, bluegrass music in Coeburn, VA, Mexican dinner & wrap-up)     

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2015 (June 13-20)
11 Participants - Aaron Hluch, Bill Bash, Bill Curtin, Chris Rector, Dan & Seán Fejes, Ezra Bard, Hannah Mann, Mike Shilling, Nathan Bell, and Vince Festa
Projects & Activities:  “Gooping” roofs, sealing & staining decks, renovation of a house’s back room & plumbing system including re-building floor, refortifying back wall, installing underpinning, and fixing leaky, backed-up plumbing; repairing a bathroom & gutters (Breaks Interstate Park, parish picnic & entertainment, coal miner talk, Birch Knob, Fourth World Movement, Pickin' in the Pound).   
 

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 2016 (June 18-25)
12 Participants - Chris Rector, Dan Fejes, Ezra Bard, Sean Fejes, Aaron Hluch, Olivia Rocco, Claire Forrestal, Nell Simons, Molly Ridge, Mike Shilling [not pictured: Vince Festa, Bill Bash]
Projects & Activities:  1. Redoing an entire bathroom floor, repairing roof and the ceiling, fixing  water damage, and building a small shed to protect family’s water heater from outdoors. 2. Removing mold and painting. 3. Redoing a roof, painting a porch, and installing new shower equipment. (Parish picnic & entertainment, Birch Knob, Fourth World Movement, Pickin' in the Pound, visiting Binns-Count).
Before starting these projects participants were informed that this would be the last year for this specific housing repair program based out of St. Joseph Church in Clintwood and headed up by Sr. Jean Korkisch, CSC. They were all deeply saddened to hear that one of their favorite weeks of the year would no longer be happening, but before they left the group met with a lady who ran another housing repair program called “Binns-Counts” just 10 minutes away from where they stayed at the time. This is where groups from St. Joseph will be continuing our program for the foreseeable future.         

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From 11/26/16 St. Joseph Housing Repair Program's Facebook page:
"Dear friends of St. Joseph housing repair program, It is with great sadness that we closed down the program at the end of this summer. We had a great 19 year run and with your help we repaired and made safe, warm and dry, the homes of hundreds of local folks who needed help.The impact you made on their lives, the lives of the parishioners, the staff, the local community, my life and your own lives was stupendous. You were and continue to be awesome. Continue your good work. The world needs your kindness and generosity more than ever. Blessings on each of you, now and until the end of time. You are in our hearts. The good news is that many groups will continue to come to Dickenson County through Binns-Counts Community Center in McClure, VA. The work of the Lord continues through your hands. We are blessed. Thank You, Sister Jean and staff."       

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2017 (June 17-24)
10 Participants - Ezra Bard, Bill Curtin, Dave Czerny, Dan & Sean Fejes, Aaron Hluch, Hannah Mann, Chris Rector, Mike Schilling, Caleb Self
Projects & Activities: 
After making the 700 mile trip & then settling in to their week’s accommodations on Saturday, our group went to Sunday’s Mass at St. Joseph’s in Clintwood and then were invited to attend a farewell pot-luck dinner for Sr. Jean. She was getting ready to move to her order’s motherhouse in South Bend, Indiana. The week of volunteering included building or improving the porches and steps of several homes. As in year’s past, some of the group made the trip up the mountain to Birch Knob, an old fire tower that has spectacular views. They also heard music and stories from Jimmy Mullins and his fiddle playing friend. In addition, they were able to present a couple of the homeowners with lap quilts that had been made last year by the Garrettsville Piecemakers Quilting Group. Though not as busy as in years past, the group felt a sense of accomplishment in what they were able to offer the people of this area.

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From Sr. Jean Korkisch’s Facebook page (6/29/17):
As I am about to depart these beautiful mountains for the flatlands of Indiana I want you all to know how important, special and life giving you have been to me. You have been kind, caring, concerned and supportive during my 34 years here and especially these last few months. I do hate to leave but all good things come to an end. I will be going to good and caring hands in South Bend.
I thank all of my friends here in Southwest Virginia and all of my friends who have touched my life from birth to now. That includes all of the staff of the St. Joseph Housing Repair Program and the Mission groups from east to west and north to south. You have touched my life in ways you will never know. You have taught me so much. You made me want to work hard and plan well your stay with us. And the parishioners of St Joseph's Catholic Church. What can I say. You have been a blessing and supportive. 
You have all been gift to me. The Lord and the gospel has always been my savior and guide. He has brought our lives together and for that I am grateful. My life and ministry has been breathtaking both literally and figuratively. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
And last but not least I have to thank my religious community for her care and concern and seeing that I was given and getting the best care by sending Sisters Ruth Marie, Marge, Karla, Joan. Sister Bernie Kenny whom has been with me every step of the way as have the rest of sisters of South West Virginia, Beth Jaspers, Jackie and Beth Davies. Our remnant group of five. 
Now I want to especially thank the Sisters of the Holy Cross for entrusting me to the hands of Debbie Mullins and Leann Bailey. We have worked together for years in the Housing program. They have been my right hand and left hand for years, actually my whole body. They know what I mean when I say "whatjamecallit" and "thingamijig" and many other words that indicate I have forgotten the real word. They have had my back every step of the way. I have not been the most patient person all of the time and they always forgive me. They are the greatest and I love them dearly. And I ask God to bless them all of their days. When I am asked if I know anybody who can do this or that the answer is always Lee and Deb. They have been entrusted to dispose of the contents of this house and pack me up and take me to St Mary's. Thank you a million times and that is not enough. Art Sheridan from Mother McAuley and Jarvis Flint from Clintwood will follow us up and help unpack. 
God bless you all. Keep in touch please.
Sister Jean

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2018 (June 16-23)
7 Participants - Sean Fejes, Dan Fejes, Ezra Bard, Chris Rector, Kendall Crawford, Aaron Hluch, and Mike Shilling.
Projects & Activities:  The group completely redid two floors in the residences of two different homeowners and put a window in a trailer.

 

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2019 (June 8-15)
7 Participants - Sean Fejes, Dan Fejes, Ezra Bard, Chris Rector, Kendall Crawford, Hannah Mann, and Caleb Self.
Projects & Activities:  TBA