By Jacqueline Quynh
Paint the Town is a program that helps spruce up the homes of senior citizens and people with disabilities. But this year they are short on volunteers. This is the 30th year for Paint the Town.
Luckily for her, the Neighborhood Housing Services selected her for their Paint the Town event where volunteers will be fixing up her home.
Home repairs are building up for 70-year-old. Doyle has been living alone since 2004. She says it's hard to pay for repairs.
“I've lived on Social Security for many years because I had to quit work when I had my heart valves implanted,” said Doyle.
But Doyle got a huge surprise Thursday. She's getting her house painted and fixed up all for free.
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Seniors World Chronicle adds: Why do we carry such local reports on a global site? So local communities and business houses worldwide think up similar projects as community service
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Gina Lyon helps organize volunteers for Paint the Town. It's an event that helps the elderly and the disabled with home repairs.
"It is a lot of work, they have to scrape the paint, they sand, they do power washing, volunteers come out and they prime the home, and then on paint day, which is June 9th, Paint the Town, they also paint the entire homes," said Lyon.
Doyle applied last year and didn't get selected because the group was short on money and volunteers. This year volunteering has dropped even lower and they've had to extend the deadline in hopes of getting enough teams.
“Last year we had 81 teams and this year we have a little over 60,” said Lyon.
Last week Paint the Town was still in need of a presenting sponsor. That's when the Ada County Association of Realtors stepped up.
"Getting to do this, and especially it helps someone who otherwise you know potentially would have to be moved out of their home for safety reasons, it’s a joy,” said Kit Fitzgerald, Ada County Association of Realtors.
Doyle is thankful to be selected. "I just feel so lucky and so fortunate. It means a lot," she said.
Lyon says the team application deadline has been extended to April 27th.
Paint the Town takes place on June 9th.
© 2009-2012 King Broadcasting Company
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