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With Donations Down, Home Works Hopes Labor of Love Campaign Will Heat Up Summertime Giving

Nonprofit cuts staff and projects, but continues to help youth, homeowners across South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C., August 24, 2010 - - Hank Chardos’ piercing blue eyes don’t blink as he clicks off the changes Home Works has made as a result of a serious decline in donations.

The nonprofit organization that repairs the houses of elderly and disabled adults in need has cut its already lean staff to just two people. It has reduced the number of homes it repairs each year by 50. All frills—not that there were any—are gone. And yet, the waiting period for people in desperate need of help now stretches to a year.

“The recession has been brutal,” admits Chardos. “People are being very careful with their money. There are a growing number of people on fixed and limited incomes in need of help. Home Works has kicked off a major fundraising campaign called Labor of Love to bring in the money we desperately need to help homeowners living in unsuitable conditions.”

Home Work’s Labor of Love fundraising campaign coincides with its busiest home repair/volunteer season, summer. Home Works relies heavily on high school and middle school volunteers, who are treated to a unique character building experience as they repair homes of the disadvantaged during week-long building blitzes in Aiken, Columbia, Charleston, John’s Island and Greenville, South Carolina as well as in towns in Georgia, Louisiana and North Carolina.

“More than 500 youth will volunteer with Home Works over the summer. We are holding the Labor of Love fundraising campaign during this time in hopes parents, family members, and others will see how hard these youth are working, and equally important, what they are getting out of it and give to Home Works so that our good work continues,” explains Chardos. “Volunteering with Home Works is life-changing for many youth.”

Antonio Bennett, a rising senior at AC Flora High School in Columbia, is one teen whose life has been transformed by Home Works. Bennett was required to volunteer for a weeklong building blitz in Columbia in June. He was a little scared and reluctant about the prospect.

“I didn’t know what it would be like. I thought it would be hard work, heat, and nothing to eat or drink. Instead, it was fun. The kids I met were cool. We motivated each other. Home Works didn’t feel like work,” says Bennett. “I liked seeing the homeowners’ faces when we got done. It made me feel good and want to do more.”

The once reluctant teen volunteer has gone on to work on two more weeklong building blitzes in Charleston, SC, and Covington, LA. Bennett was promoted to the position of site leader and was responsible for directing other teen volunteers at various job sites. “The house in Charleston was supposed to take two days to repair and took a week. The lady started crying at the end. I was proud; I teared up, too,” Bennett says.

Home Works’ Labor of Love fundraising campaign runs through Labor Day, September 6. Chardos hopes to be able to announce big results that will enable the organization to continue its mission of repairing homes and restoring hope.

“Home Works has been very blessed over the years with many great sponsors, volunteers and opportunities to help homeowners, youth and communities. Times are tough, but Home Works is about miracles. I am praying that the Labor of Love fundraising campaign is one of those miracles,” he says, “because we need one.”

Donations to the Home Works Labor of Love fundraising campaign can be made online at
www.HomeWorksofamerica.org or mailed to Home Works, P.O. Box 102, Irmo, SC 29063.

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To schedule an interview with Hank Chardos of Home Works, contact Jean Triskett at jtriskett@luxandassociates.com or 803.376.1603.