JANUARY BREAKFAST AND WORK DAY IS CANCELLED

PLEASE NOTE: Due to winter weather and other concerns this month, we are canceling the January 28th breakfast and volunteer work day.
We will meet next month on Saturday, February 25th, 8 a.m. at Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren Church.

Even though there will be no January breakfast, we still have a couple of projects for which we need volunteers this month:

1.  Help move a queen size bed from a Ballard storage unit into a second floor bedroom. The woman is currently sleeping on an inflatable mattress lying on the floor with a slow leak, which is always flat by morning!
2.  Organize and remove items from a senior gentleman's apartment. He's in his 80's and is unsteady on his feet. Some things will go to Goodwill.
3.  Repair a stove. A woman who lives near Northgate needs her stove looked at. The top part of the stove where the controls are located is very loose and needs to be checked out.
4.  Find a free used clothes dryer and deliver to a widow in her 80's whose dryer stopped working

Next monthly volunteer action day:
Saturday, February 25, 2012 – Includes breakfast

LOCATION AND TIME
Here's your chance to meet other guys from Ballard and do a few hours of service helping those in need in our community. No need to be highly trained in a task...just bring willing hands and heart. We will meet on Saturday at 8 a.m. for breakfast, which is hosted this month in the basement of Rock of Ages Lutheran Brethren Church, 316 N. 70th St, Seattle, WA 98103. Following breakfast and getting acquainted, the MOB Boss will hand out the MOB "hit list" and we will spend a couple of hours serving those in need. No strings attached or long-term commitments. We're just a bunch of guys willing to give up some time to share the love of the GodFather (God the Father) in a practical way.Want to help? RSVP by email or leave Gino a message at 206-971-9600. OR, if you can't help on Saturday but can help with a project some other time during the month, let us know.

FUTURE WORK DAYS — MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
We usually meet on the last Saturday of the month. March 31, April 28, May 25, June 30.

September 2011 Hits

YARD WORK  – Did some end of summer yard work for a great-grandma who lives with her disabled son, still recovering from a recent surgery. Also, did a little minor home repair in the kitchen.

iNSTALL A BATHTUB AND FRAME WALLS on a bathroom project for Gina's mother. There is currently no bathtub on the main floor and Gina's 90-year-old mother can't climb the stairs to the second floor. A local plumber has said they will do the actual plumbing connections for the water supply and drain lines. Then all that is left is the dry wall install. Yea!!

PESKY UP-STARTS! Cut down some unwanted black locust tree sprouting out of the ground from a neighbors tree. This 78-year-old appreciated the effort. Dorothy is still quite active and volunteers at Bread of LIfe Mission twice a week and also visits "old people" at local nursing homes.

HAULING AND REPAIR – Take a chair to Goodwill for a disabled senior with no car and repair a broken lamp. If only all our projects were so easy!

TIMBERRRR! Cut down small evergreen trees for Perinatal Treatment Services, a live-in drug rehab center for pregnant women, or mothers with young children. Many of the women would be homeless and hopeless without PTS.

MOB BOSS OF THE MOSS – The MOB boss assisted another mobster on the roof of an 80-year-old, low income senior, and removed a moss infestation before the fail rains arrived. She appreciates what the MOB has done for her and has donated a weed-whacker to our tool supply. Thanks, Beth!

VACUUM REPAIR – Repair a broken vacuum for a single woman living with a disabled senior.

August 2011 Hits

PAINTING  – Finished painting the apartment/condo for Jeanie, a senior who is almost deaf and has extremely poor vision. She needs eye surgery, which she can't afford, and has lived in the same apartment for probably 30 years. It's never been repainted and looked very shabby.

DELIVER HOSPITAL BED – We picked up a donated hospital bed and set it up for Mildred, a 90-year-old woman who has recently returned home after a hospital and rehab stay for a stroke.

CRAWLING IN THE CRAWL SPACE – We tied up some loose insulation in a very short crawl space and cleaned pine needles off a metal shed for a retired person on Crown Hill.

YARD WORK – Barbara is a woman with a host of health issues including vertigo and a back disability. She wants to do yard work but is unable to and the grass in her back yard was about two feet high. A social worker referred her to The MOB. We cut the grass, trimmed some bushes, and got rid of some unwanted blackberry shoots. She was amazed at how well we did the job and the "kind, wonderful people" that we sent out to help.

SNIP, SNIP HERE AND SNIP, SNIP THERE – Three of our guys went to trim down two rhododendron bushes that were invading the front porch of a woman living in Ballard. Next month we'll need to go back and whack away at a 20 foot tall camellia bush.

CARPENTRY – We began framing the walls for a new bathtub for Mildred. (See September's upcoming project.)

          

July 2011 Hits

PAINTING  – We worked a few more hours on Jeanie's apartment walls but didn't finish,  so we will need one more return visit. (Details on this project in June.)

NO CHIP ON OUR SHOULDERS – The chips were actually on the ground. We spread out ground up mulch and wood chips at the Perinatal Treatment Services. Perinatal Treatment Services, a live-in drug rehab center for pregnant women, or mothers with young children. Some women and children would be on the street if it weren't for this center. The center is full right now with a 15-30 person wait list of women wanting treatment. Much to the young mother's and children's delight, we filled up the kid's sandbox for them to play in. Perfect timing for these nice summer days.

MOVE A CLOSET. Removed a bedroom Ikea built-in closet in preparation to enlarge the bathroom to add a bathtub for Gina's 90-year-old mother. Also, installed an arbor arch over the front sidewalk to Gina's house.

HAPPY HAULERS. Disposed of a small bookshelf for a senior woman and picked up some used boards to help with a garden project for another senior. Another team went to help out a disabled woman moving furniture and boxes around. Also, carried out about 12 bags of garbage. Yikes!

CLEAN OUT GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUT. Cleaned out the downspout and checked the gutters for a senior woman. Only took a few minutes but meant a lot to her, so she will not have to worry about the plugged up downspouts. 

June 2011 Hits

PAINTING PREP – Jeanie is a senior who is almost deaf and has extremely poor vision. Our group moved furniture and prepped the walls for a volunteer college group to come in and paint the next day. They didn't quite finish, so we will need a return visit.

MINOR HOME REPAIRS – Jan is a senior woman who needed a leaking kitchen faucet repaired, a bookcase moved, and some items left in her condo storage hauled away: old paint, bi-fold doors and some floor molding.

PROBLEMS DRAINED AWAY – We work with very interesting people. Marian is a senior who actually knew Rev. Billy Graham when he was young and gave her rides to school in his car. She's lived in Seattle for many years and her sink and bathtub were not draining. One of our guys used a plumber's snake to open up the drains and she is very thankful she didn't have to call a plumber. 

YARD WORK & HAULING – A senior had no way to dispose of a heavy futon mattress. Our guys got rid of it and did some other small chores around the house.

HAULING – We recycled a computer desk and an old door for "Gina" and her mom. Clearing some more space in their home. She is so thankful for all we do.

May 2011 Hits

MOVING & MINOR REPAIRS – "Gina" lives with her 90-year-old mother and needed help with emptying out a storage unit to save herself the monthly burden of paying for the extra storage space. She was so happy to have one less bill coming every month. We also installed a couple of donated light fixtures in a bedroom and living room. We also poured gravel and set up the framing for a future concrete sidewalk. The new sidewalk will make it possible for Gina's mother to get out of the house to the car, which is almost impossible to do now.

CABINET REPAIR – Three of our guys went to help Martha with repairing a broken pantry cabinet, hung a picture on the wall, and ran some errands at the bank and grocery store. She is disabled, on limited income and unable to drive.

April 2011 Hits

HOUSING FOR WOMAN ON EDGE OF HOMELESSNESS – "Priscilla" (not her real name) is a working woman who lived with her elderly mom to help take care of her. She makes a steady income but it's a low hourly wage. Last fall, her mom had to be moved to a home for those with dementia and their $1200 per month shared apartment was no longer affordable for Priscilla. She couldn't find a reasonably priced unit and having a pet and a poor credit history made it worse. She was going to be kicked out on the street with not even a car to sleep in since she only travels by bus. She had no place to go and only had a couple of days to find housing. Her sister called me and told me about Priscilla's problem. We were able to match her up with another family that we have helped in the past and move her into that home into a spare bedroom. We paid for three nights in a motel while various individuals spent over 34 hours to clean and make repairs to the bedroom and bathroom for Priscilla, decorate both rooms, and then move her personal items into storage and into her new room. Priscilla will be able to trade rent for helping around the house and caring for the elderly mother living in that home. This is a big win-win for everyone! This story is one I'm particularly proud of.

GROUP HOME REPAIRS – A local group home for developmentally disabled adults in Ballard needed a front screen door and door jam repaired. The door was off its hinges and the closer mechanism wasn't working.

MINOR REPAIRS – "Gina" lives with her 90-year-old mother and needed help with a loose threshold on the front door, fix a troublesome front door lock and broken shoe rack, dispose of a mattress, and assemble a home office desk. Three of our guys got it done and she let us know what the continued help has meant to her. "You have truly made a huge difference in my life. I'm sure that my mom would have been taken from our home and would have been placed in a nursing home against her will. She probably would have died by being unhappy and losing her will to live. You have given me hope and done much more for us than we ever could have expected."

KING OF CRAIGSLIST – Ed has been off work with an injury and has no computer. He needed to sell an extra refrigerator and freezer and we said that we would help. One of our guys, who can't do much physical labor and I call the King of Craigslist (thanks Steve), listed the items online to help get them sold. Not all the things the MOB does, involves yard, plumbing or power tools!

A big round of applause for the men (and women) who helped on the above projects.

March 2011 Hits

MOBSTER IS NO COUCH POTATO – Picked up an old worn out couch from a retired woman living on Crown Hill and took it to the dump. Also, picked up a used bookcase she had purchased and delivered it to her apartment.

HOME REPAIR – Did some minor fix-it projects for a woman with very poor eyesight and hearing. Added shelved to a closet, repaired some wall shelves, added earthquake straps to two bookcases and replaced a toilet seat.

HELP FOR CANCER SURVIVOR – A 64-year-old cancer survivor who had to retire early due to her illness, had a bathtub faucet that was leaking inside the wall. We opened it up and found that someone had tried to install or repair it in the past using a plastic sprinkler pipe! Definitely not the right part for the job. A $4 part fixed the problem and saved her a plumber's bill. Also, a mobster went over on a separate trip to check out an under the counter small water heater that wasn't working. After beginning to tear out the countertop to get to it, he figured out that someone had turned down the temperature and repairs weren't needed after all. Yea! Another plumbing bill averted. 

A MOVING EXPERIENCE – Helped the same single mom with kids, that we helped move in January, to move from her mother's apartment to an place of her own. 

February 2011 Hits

VARIOUS HOME REPAIRS –Gina, a disabled woman living on Crown Hill, was using pliers to turn the handles on her tub and shower in her bathroom for over 7 years. There were only short stubs left of where the handles were supposed to attach to the wall and the the bottom of the tub had rusty dings where she dropped the slippery pliers over the years. We were able to install new handles and repair the rotting wall material. We also installed a bedroom door and a install stair handrail from the first to second floor.

EMPTYING OUT STORAGE UNIT SAVES WOMAN $1,000 – We emptied out the rest of a storage unit in Kenmore which a woman, with bad arthritis and needing knee surgery, has owned for years but could no longer afford. It took several trips to the storage unit, the thrift store and her apartment. This will save her $1,000 a year in storage costs! Also, glue and repair broken dresser drawers for her and move some furniture around in her apartment. We added earthquake straps to some bookcases.

RX PICKUP – Went to the pharmacy and picked up some prescriptions for a disabled woman living on SSI who has no car. 

DEATH OF A COMPUTER – We acted as funeral directors for an old computer and monitor that died and needed to be sent to the junkyard in the sky. We helped a woman, who found out about us from the Ballard Food Bank and is unemployed due to health problems, by picking up her old computer and monitor and taking them to Goodwill for recycling.

January 2011 Hits

CLOTHES DRYER DONATED AND DELIVERED – Delivered a donated clothes dryer to a Ellen and her unemployed roommate Bob. They had to dry their clothes by laying them out to dry in the apartment because their dryer had gone out several months ago and couldn't afford to get it fixed.

TURN UP THE HEAT – Replaced a worn-out electric wall heater in a private group home for five disabled adults. 

YARD CLEANUP – Hauled items to Goodwill and the dump for a very-feeble 89 year old and her daughter.  Her neighbors were complaining to the city about the junk laying around in the yard so the MOB took action...no, not with the neighbor...with removing the trash! Also, repaired the drain on a roof gutter.

EMERGENCY MOVING ASSISTANCE FOR SINGLE MOM – On very short notice help move a single mom and her two kids from a  shelter for mothers with children to a temporary apartment rented by her mother. We had a very short notice to get her moved.

POWER-WASH KING – One of our MOB men loves to power-wash. He tells us that it's so relaxing with the sound of the compressor and the powerful wand in his hand. He went to work on the sidewalk along side the house of a home owned by an 88-year-old woman. It was covered with mud and moss and quite dangerous.

December 2010 Hits
SEWER FIXED AFTER NINE MONTHS OF BEING BROKEN  – December was supposed to be quiet for the MOB during the holidays with no scheduled projects, but a need came to our attention last month that we couldn't ignore. Millie is an 89-year-old woman who lives on Crown Hill and suffers from chronic back and knee pain. Her daughter, "Gina" (not her real name), who is visually impaired and has had a brain injury, moved in with Millie to care for her. Gina is unemployed due to her disabilities and as a full time care-giver for her mom. She must purchase expensive prescription drugs each month for her own physical conditions. In March 2010  the sewer backed up and stopped working. We recently found it had not been working for nine months! Gail tried to get a loan from the city to fund the repairs but to no avail. A woman with a lot of grit, she started digging to uncover the decades old sewer line herself to find either the break or tree roots causing the problem.  For months, her biggest fear was that the city would condemn the house and put her mom in a state-sponsored institution. The need touched our hearts and Floyd G. stepped up for the MOB. He took over the responsibility to get a plumber to run a camera down the line to find the problem. He also dug out more of the sewer pipe and hired a plumber to replace about 20 feet of pipe and add a couple of clean-outs. Thank you Floyd, for your compassion and hard work.
     FUND-RAISER FOR THE NEW SEWER LINE –The plumbing bill came to $602.25. Gina said she has no extra money to cover the plumbing repairs and it would take forever to pay us back. We told her that the MOB would cover the bill since fixing it was an absolute necessity. So, I'm putting forth the need to all our "balcony people" – those cheering us on for the volunteer work we do. This is your opportunity to help cover the cost of the sewer line repairs. If you send a financial gift, please mark it for the sewer project. I also need some people to come and help fill in the rest of the dirt, moving it from the back yard to cover up the pipe. A little time here and there will help to finish the project.

$400 DONATION FROM LOCAL QUILT RAFFLE – In December the Ballard quilter's group called Piecemakers raffled off a lovely new hand-made quilt with pillow cases. The women chose the MOB as the recipient of 100% of the proceeds, as they wanted the money to go to a local volunteer group making a difference here in our neighborhood. $400 was raised and given to our group! The winner of the quilt raffle was Joyce Bond. Thanks, Arlene D., for heading up the raffle and selling the tickets! 

November 2010 Hits
ROOT OUT THE PROBLEM  – We sent a bunch of guys to tackle cutting down a willow tree whose roots had grown into the sewer line at the home of an 88-year-old woman who lives with her disabled daughter. They had to pay $350 for the last visit from the roto-rooter man and were told the tree needed to come out. As long as we had a large truck going to the dump, we decided to also discard a bunch of old junk and discarded items cluttering up the back yard. Along with the tree, old bike, discarded carpet, two televisions, and other trash, the weight came to 2,100 pounds. We were thankful for good weather and lots of help!

             

TRASH AND CLIPPINGS TO THE DUMP – This must have been the month for trash and sewer problems. There was a complaint made to the city about some trash and clippings piled in the driveway of a senior's home and she and the family were concerned about a possible fine, and getting in trouble with the city. They had no money to cover paying someone to haul it off and remembered that The MOB had helped them about a year ago, so asked if we could help again. A willing volunteer gave up his truck and time to help another volunteer load it all up and dispose of the trash. Mission accomplished. The homeowner also has a problem with a sewer pipe leak and we are investigating how we can help her out with repairs.

SNOW TRIP TO THE STORE – A disabled woman called and said she had no way to pick up her prescriptions and groceries during the recent snow and blast of freezing weather we experienced right before Thanksgiving. One of our men ran the errands for her in his 4-wheel drive SUV and delivered the groceries and medications to her apartment.

October 2010 Hits
SCREEN FIX  – We went back to help "Bob" a disabled Viet Nam vet and fixed a computer monitor that had stopped working. We also made a second trip out to install some light blocking curtains and rods to help with a light-sensitivity problem that he suffers from. Two women from United Evangelical Free Church donated the blinds and sewed them up the week before we installed them in his apartment.

PAINT BRUSH TOUCH UP –  One of our guys painted the handrails on a wheelchair ramp for "Dorothy" and got them ready for the upcoming wet weather of winter.

MOVE OUT THE SOFA –  We weren't couch potatoes on this job. We were able to list an ad on Craigslist, screen the buyers, and sell a couch owned by a disabled Crown Hill woman who wanted it sold, so she could purchase a smaller size couch. We also helped the buyers move it out to their vehicle.

EMERGENCY PLUMBING –  This was really a draining job. A backed-up kitchen sink is somewhat of an emergency for a low income 83-year-old widow! So, two of our guys helped to unplug the clogged pipes with a 20 foot power snake.

FIX A FLAT –  Another emergency from a stranded senior who was stuck on Aurora Avenue North with a flat tire. One of our men was able to jump right on the job and get the tire changed. It was an easy job and he wasn't "tired" at all.

REPAIR A WINDOW –  We returned to help "Ruthie" who called to say that her kitchen window was falling out. Not a good thing. We got it fixed up without it being to much of a "pane".... uuhhh, sorry. We can't resist the puns.

   
CARPET PULLED –  Following breakfast, two new men, who joined us for the first time,  pulled out an old carpet and vinyl flooring in a bedroom at "Ruby's" house. The old carpet was really dirty and moldy. Ruby tells us that she can finally sleep all night without waking up coughing and choking from the smelly carpet.

RAIN GUTTERS FIXED –  Some may say we were all wet to tackle this job, but we did it anyway. Leaky rain gutters were bugging a senior living on Crown Hill and we went and sealed up the leaks.

September 2010 Hits

A STEADY HAND – A couple of MOBsters installed a handrail at the front door of Dave and Lynne. Dave is disabled and Lynne works full-time to support them. Among his physical problems is a balance problem and he needed a handrail to grip at his front steps. No problem for our guys. 

BIG BLACK BAGS – We picked up 8-10 black plastic bags of yard waste at a senior widow's house. They were left by another volunteer group that had helped her several months ago when they mowed and trimmed her overgrown yard. But they never finished the job and left the mess in her front driveway.

SHELF – We helped a woman with fibromyalgia install several shelves in her kitchen and bathroom to give her more storage space.
Funds to donate the plywood and other materials were donated by a married couple in Edmonds who are fans of The Men of Ballard. Thanks, Dick and Margie!

        
ROOF REPAIR – Two of our guys checked out a leaking roof for a senior living on Social Security who had water leaking into her living room. Some extra flashing and roof tar should fix the problem. We hope! In appreciation she donated an electric weed-whacker to our group. Thanks, Beth.

KEEP IT QUIET! – Lisa was referred to us through a social worker who said Lisa needed an insulated block of foam to be inserted into her apartment window to cut out the street and neighborhood noise that keep her awake. She has a sleep disorder and couldn't find anyone to help with the task. We also checked out an air conditioner that was troublesome.

ZAPPING THE BED BUGS – We helped move furniture and plants for a disabled woman whose apartment was being treated for bed bugs (yikes!) who moved in from a neighboring unit. She had to leave for the day while her apartment was heated to 140 degrees to kill the little pesky critters. Then we helped provide fans and set them up to help cool the apartment down.

August 2010 Hits

STORAGE UNIT CLEANUP – Martha, a disabled 63-year-old Crown Hill woman who had to quit work due to an incurable physical condition, asked for help to help start to sort and clean out her storage unit, so she can stop paying rent on the space. Two of our guys took one SUV load to her apartment and one load to be given to charity. 

NOW THAT'S A SWITCH – Jim, a cancer patient, and his wife had an electrical problem in their living room that was checked out and repaired with a new switch and electrical socket.

HOUSEHOLD REPAIRS – Judy, a single grandma who has her niece, daughter and two grandkids living with her, needed some general household repairs done. Our men fixed a cabinet door, checked smoke alarms, fixed a screen door, repaired a crack in the bathroom wall, cut some large limbs away from a deck in the backyard and trimmed another tree. She was so grateful for the help.

ROOF, ROOF – Betty, a 70-year-old widow who still works a part-time job in Ballard, needed her gutters cleaned and her roof inspected for any possible problems. Our guys had it done in a jiffy.

MOVING HELP – Lucy, a woman who is recovering from a recent shoulder surgery and has had constant pain for the past 10 years from a stroke, needed help moving from an assisted living apartment into her own rental apartment. She called us to see if we could assist and we had enough volunteers on a Saturday morning to help.

SLEEP TIGHT – We found a rollaway bed on Craigslist for Raleigh, a retired senior with fibromyalgia, to sleep on. For the past 16 years she slept on the floor or a chair in her small house and said it took a few nights to get used to sleeping in a "real" bed. She calls us her "angels."

A GARDEN REFUGE – We washed up a lawn table with a glass top and lawn chairs with pads that had been donated to our group. Then we delivered them Epic Life Church. This small church reaches out to minister and encourage those who live and work along Aurora Avenue North. They were given use of a vacant garbage infested lot across the street from a strip club and are turning it into a garden sanctuary of beauty.  They want to make a place of beauty where people can safely gather for talk, music, or take a rest.

WALKING IN THE LIGHT – Last month we helped Sherri, a legally blind woman, move into her new apartment. This month several women (what do we call them ... MOBettes?) returned to help her unpack and organize more of her items. We also hooked up her VCR and took away items she didn't need.

DRYER – "Ruthie" had a clothes dryer conk out and had no money for a new one. We were able to find a free used one and Craigslist and deliver it to her but now it has a bad squeak and needs to be junked.

TELEVISION TAXI – "Bob" is a disabled Viet Nam vet battles fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and arthritis. Being bound to his apartment he asked if we could pickup a used television he had purchased on Craigslist and deliver it to his apartment. A father and son team drove to Mt. Lake Terrace and picked up the big TV Bob had purchased and set it up.

July 2010 Hits

         TIMBERRRR – "Ruby" is a retired woman who owns a small 450 square foot house in poor condition. She called to say that two large limbs of a tree in her front yard fell with a crash on a sunny calm day and were lying across her yard. Luckily she wasn't in the yard at the time or she could have been crushed! She asked for our help and we started to cut down the diseased tree and chip up the branches. We did what we could but stalled however, when we noticed how far some of the tree leans towards a neighbor's house. So, we are going to have to leave the remainder of this this project to the professionals. We plan to help "Ruby" sell the wood on Craigslist to help pay for a new replacement tree. She also needed a closet clothes hanger built into her bedroom, so she can hang her clothes. One of our new recruits working on his first day with The MOB, headed up the project and built the clothes rack and shelves.

TOILET LEAKING – Betty, a 70-year-old widow living on Social Security called and asked for help with a toilet drain pipe leaking under the house. It was a crisis for her, as it is the only toilet in the house and couldn't be used. One of our guys tackled the problem and spent the whole day, cutting out the floor and replacing the pipe and connections.

GET OUT THE PAINT BRUSH –  We replaced a rotted wheelchair ramp for "Dorothy", a disabled grandma, last month. This month a new mobster painted it with deck paint to make it last. Thanks, Tom!

   
MOVE 'EM OUT – Annie, a 63-year-old disabled woman called saying that she called every service agency and organization she could think of, yet couldn't anyone to help her move. She has suffered from fibromyalgia for 19 years and can't do heavy lifting.    She also had anxiety about finding a washer/dryer. Good news! The Godfather came through! We asked a young couple to donate their washer/dryer to Annie, rather than receive the $200 they were asking for on their Craigslist ad. And they gave it to us! Annie couldn't get over the fact that there are people willing to sacrifice their time and help her for free...no strings attached. She wanted to know about our group and where we came from. One of us was able to talk with her, along with an 84-year-old male friend of hers about the GodFather (God the Father), and tell of his love for them. Wow! What a privilege. We rented a truck and had 10 people pack her up and move to her new residence. Awesome!

MORE MOVING – Sherri, a legally blind woman who lost her sight from a cancerous brain tumor about 15 years ago, called on a Thursday and said her volunteer helpers fell through at the last moment and she needed help to move by Saturday. How do you say "no" to a blind person in need? Nancy, one of our women friends from United EFC, helped her pack the next day. A young man from Bethany Community Church stepped forward and said he would get a couple of his buddies to get her moved. They borrowed a friend's pickup truck and got her moved by mid-afternoon. Wonderful!

CLEANING AND HAULING HELP – "Mary" is a disabled adult woman who can barely walk due to bad lymphedema, an incurable disease. We helped clean off her balcony, arrange her plants, move some large items out of her apartment and take them to Goodwill Store.

CONCRETE SIDEWALK – The MOB needed some concrete but not for cement overshoes! We poured the concrete for a new sidewalk to help "Ruthie" have a safe place to use her scooter to get out of her house. She is overjoyed that she can now safely get out of the house and down to street level. Smooth job, guys!

June 2010 Hits
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY –  We had a window of opportunity to help "Millie" an 89-year-old grandma, who served in World War II, retired from the army, and now lives with her daughter, by reglazing a window pane that was nearly falling out, and removing a storm window frame. She was referred to us by City of Seattle Human Services.

GOTTA' FILE IT TO FIND IT –  Helped "Leena" a woman who had to retire early from community college teaching due to bad arthritis and injury to her hands and wrists. She is working on writing a book and was in need of a filing cabinet for her papers. We found one for her and delivered it to her apartment. She was thrilled and said, "I may the only person in America so excited about a file cabinet!"

RAMP IT UP –  "Dorothy" a disabled senior had a rotted wheelchair ramp that needed to be replaced. She has had several falls inside her house, uses a walker and is pretty unsteady with it. We replaced the ramp to her front door that had rotted through and made it safe for her.

  

HOUSEBOUND –  "Ruthie" a disabled senior who uses a scooter to get around, has been housebound for over 6 months since she hasn't been able to get the scooter around the back of her house down to the front sidewalk. The ground had become so uneven over time that it wasn't safe for her to cross it on her scooter without fear of getting stuck or falling over. A couple of our guys framed up a concrete walkway this month and will get concrete poured in July. She is thrilled and looking forward to being able to get out and having a little more freedom.

May 2010 Hits
SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED – We assembled a new dresser for "Mary" a disabled woman living on Crown Hill. We also disposed of items she no longer needed in her crowded apartment. She is in need of women volunteers to followup and help her organize her possessions in her apartment.

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF – We installed a new front hall carpet, trimmed an overgrown bush and washed a car for a single mom with two kids who live on Crown Hill. It took a while to do the carpet, since we are amateur carpet layers, but it came out looking fine.

YARD WORK & GUTTERS – The MOB helped to arrange three separate work projects for groups of teenage volunteers for CityServe on May 29-30. Youth For Christ, an after-school club for teens, sent kids from all over the Northwest area to volunteer a weekend at food banks, downtown feeding missions, and helping seniors and the disabled. One of our guys helped oversee work at a disabled woman's house. "Pam" has fibromyalgia and other debilitating health problems. Within the last month her father and one of her dogs passed away. And her mom has bad alzheimers. She has been feeling very depressed. To encourage her we sent a team to help with her overgrown yard and exterior maintenance. The team of 7 kids and 2 adults cleaned off the moss from the roof, cleaned gutters, trimmed trees, mowed, weeded and raked. The teens had a real workout and made a huge difference in the way her house looked. Pam, who couldn't do any of the work herself or afford to hire it done, was really touched by these teens, who even if they aren't part of The MOB, joyfully worked for the GodFather!

RING, RING – The Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens referred this project to us. "Jane," an 80-year-old senior purchased a new answering machine and phones from Radio Shack but couldn't get them installed and working. She was stuck and felt very isolated and hated to miss any messages. So, one of our guys went over during the week and got them running. He also fixed a few other small items needing repair. After each item was checked off the to=do list, he kept hearing, "You're wonderful. Your'e wonderful." He said it was nice to hear, but after a while, it almost got to be embarrassing! 

April 2010 Hits
LET THERE BE LIGHT – We installed dining room fixture and dimmer switch for "James," a disabled adult man in his late 40s, who has just had surgery on his feet.

OUTDOOR CHORES – Yard work, trimming, and minor deck repair for a Ballard woman afflicted with MS. Things were quite overgrown, extending out over the curb into the street. It looked like a whole new place after our volunteer crew was done! Thanks, guys!

March 2010 Hits
As men we love to use the handyman's basic three tools: duct tape, sheet rock screws, and WD40. It's amazing what can be done with just these three things! This month, we didn't get to use any of them for the projects that came our way. However, we did start our workday off right with a big breakfast of biscuits and gravy.

   
WHO SAYS ELECTRICITY AND WATER DON'T MIX? – The MOB returned to a home for disabled adults in Ballard and installed a new light fixture in their basement and replaced the badly leaking kitchen faucet. We saved them from having to pay plumbing professionals to do the job...so does that make us "semi-professional?"

HOME REPAIRS AND DUMP RUN – We went to a single mom's house to finish a bedroom makeover for her (paint, curtains, furniture) and put in a new bedroom light fixture. We also fixed a leaking bathroom drain, replaced a door lock, hung a mirror, did yard cleanup and took a load of old stuff to the dump.

     
Bedroom makeover for mom with new paint, curtains, light fixture, pillows and bedspread. Entertainment center for senior.

HOW SHOCKING – Another light fixture problem...this time for a Ballard senior, who is disabled with MS and lives with her developmentally-disabled daughter. Her dining room chandelier had previously shorted out while she was changing a light bulb. The men assigned to this project tracked down the problem and got it fixed. The women also needed an entertainment center/tv stand, which we found a few days earlier on Craigslist. When our guys went to purchase it, the sellers, Julie and Sean, kept lowering the price until they talked themselves into giving to us for free! And we didn't even ask for them to do it! Maybe telling them we were from The MOB had something to do with it.  :)  Thanks for your generosity!

MAJOR EFFORT FOR SOME PEOPLE BUT MINOR STUFF FOR US – For Martha, a disabled woman who can hardly walk, living in Section 8 housing and recently released from a hospital stay, we delivered a file cabinet we purchased to help her get organized. We also assembled a 2 chairs for her, repaired a dresser, and moved some furniture around. She and her 3 cats were very thankful. Meow!

PESKY LINT – Senior Services department of the mayor's office referred Janet to us. This 73-year-old woman, who was a foster parent for many years, needed the lint cleaned out of her dryer. It hadn't been done in several years and she was concerned about a possible fire hazard. She also needed a display cabinet leg repaired. We made quick work of it. (And, no, we didn't use any duct tape.)

February 2010 Hits
We had a dozen men show up and we were blessed with perfectly beautiful weather for our Saturday work day. We tackled five projects. It's work but it feels more like play when you are working with friends!

   
PLUMBING FOR GROUP HOME – Three of our mobsters installed two new toilets at a group home for disabled adults. The home purchased the toilets and we installed them saving a plumbing bill. The guys also repaired a couple of broken light fixtures.

        

GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER – We tried, but it required brain-power to get new gutters fabricated and installed for "Gina" a senior widow's in Ballard. We put in new gutters on both the front and back sides of her home. Now let it rain!

MORE GUTTERS – Lee, an 89-year-old retired carpenter, said he probably shouldn't be up on the roof cleaning his gutters, and we agreed! So, a couple of our men volunteered to clean them for him. Gino knows him personally and said he deserves the help, as this gentleman has been a real giver over the years to all kinds of causes. Now it's his turn to receive.

  
HELPING SINGLE MOMS – Many single moms are struggling and a local clothing bank needs our support. SMART, a clothing bank for single mothers located on Crown Hill, needed a place to hang donated clothes as they were washed and sorted. We were able to find two donated clothing racks, as well as several shelving units, and assemble them for use. The wall shelves will be used to display donated children's books, DVDs and toys.

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? – Actually, it's more like how do you keep the kids in and the wild critters out if you have a broken gate to your backyard? A couple of our guys gave assistance to a family where the dad is in military service and the mom and kids are home alone. They needed a gate repaired and a replacement dryer vent installed in an outside wall. Men, we salute you!


January 2010 Hits

     
BEDROOM & BATHROOM FIX-IT CHORES – We returned to the grandma's house where in December we did the bedroom and bathroom makeover. This month we installed two bedroom light fixtures in the kid's rooms, repaired several dangerous electrical problems (switches, outlet boxes, outlets, and a closet light fixture), replaced a broken window, painted a bathroom and hall doors, installed towel racks, installed a new dryer vent pipe, and took old discarded items to the dump. Whew!

     
CLEAN UP AND MOVING HELP – This project came as a referral from the Ballard Food Bank. A Ballard senior suffering from MS has a mother-in-law apartment that needed to be cleaned so that her developmentally-disabled adult daughter can move into it. The MOB cleaned carpets with a rented rug cleaner, spackled spots on the walls, took some items to the dump and checked out two malfunctioning light fixtures. The following week we spot painted and helped move her daughter's items from her small apartment in Lake City into the house. With five guys on a Saturday morning we got the moving done in only two hours! Thanks, guys!

AN "ENLIGHTENING" JOB – Jim, a cancer patient, and his wife are another wonderful couple that the GodFather has brought our way. We installed a motion detector porch light at their home on Crown Hill. They so appreciated getting this done, so that on these dark wintery nights the porch light comes on before they get to the door. And it's better for security, too! We also took a few worn-out patio items to the dump. Isn't it great to have volunteers who own a truck?!

SPEAKING OF TRUCKS... – We returned to help Patty with the last of her personal items that had to be moved out of her basement apartment. She is the unemployed lady we helped move in December after the house above was flooded due to burst pipes from the winter cold snap. We took the last of her items to the dump and a storage unit. She still needs a place to live and is currently sleeping on a friend's couch. Let us know if you know of a person who needs a live-in senior citizen care-giver. That is what she has been doing for employment.

COMPUTER SETUP – One of our guys donated and delivered an older unused computer to Ruthann, a disabled woman who uses her computer every day for email and keeping in contact with friends and family around the country. Her ancient computer was broken and  too old to fix. She lives a little bit out of our normal work area but she wants to move to Ballard very soon and needs someone to drive her around to look at the available apartments for rent. Can you give a few hours to drive her around in Ballard?

December 2009 Hits

BEDROOM & BATHROOM MAKEOVERS FOR CHRISTMAS – The MOB had the great opportunity to give a Christmas surprise for the same family we worked with in November (a single mom with 2 kids, ages 7 and 10, who live with her elderly disabled mother). The mom's husband has left her and has moved out of state and stopped paying child support. The grandma's house has not been properly maintained for years. We noticed that the 7-year-old girl didn't have a bedroom of her own and was sleeping in the dining room. It was a shame she didn't have a room to call her own when there was one in the house that could work. In her brother's bedroom, we noticed a bare light bulb illuminating a room with a bare mattress on the floor, old paint on the walls, the window painted shut and a sheet being used for a window curtain. Upon asking the mom if we could do a bedroom make-over for the kids, she replied with a big smile, "That would be awesome!" This became our big project for the month and we worked for four weekends and several evenings to bring some Christmas joy to the family.

    
Installing the carpet. Unloading the two donated bunkbeds. Repairs and painting.

   
Boy's room before, with mattress on floor, old paint, no curtains. After with new paint, new carpet, bunk bed and curtains.

      
Before: storage room with 2 broken windows. After: Pink paint, bed, carpet, & curtains – a room of her own & a dream come true!

  The donated bunkbeds look like this.

We converted a second floor room used for storage back into a bedroom for the little girl and updated her brother's bedroom with new paint and carpet. It was such a neat surprise for the kids! It was awesome to watch everything come together. We fixed two broken windows and reglazed them. We opened up windows that had been painted shut for years. We spackled, primed, and painted the walls. New carpet for the bedrooms and hallway was donated by a senior citizen in Mt. Lake Terrace who attends Ballard Church. The carpet pad was donated by a carpet company in Tacoma. The carpet was installed by our friend, Andre the carpet installer, who drove all the way from Lakewood to do the job! Two used high-end wooden bunk-beds, the kind with a built in desk and chest of drawers, were donated by Scott B., a wonderful man in Kirkland who responded to our Craigslist ad asking for beds. Each bunk-bed cost over $1400 when new!! We added new shelves in the closets and added finishing touches of curtains, comforter, table, and lamps. Wastebaskets, chairs, and a mirror were donated. We repaired broken door locks and obtained two light fixtures to replace the bare hanging bulbs. At the final unveiling a week before Christmas, the young girl walked into her room and kept saying, "Oh, my goodness." She then climbed up onto the top of the bunk-bed, looking all around and said with a smile, "This is the best day of my life!! And I've never said that before. Usually my days aren't that good." Wow! Her brother was excited, too, but by the time we finished for the unveiling, it was 11 pm and he just walked into his room and fell into his new bed! It was such a great feeling to be able to give such an appreciated Christmas gift. 

     
Before photo: rusted sink with broken faucet, old toilet and damaged walls. After: New sink, water-saving toilet, and repaired walls.

BATHROOM MAKEOVER – For the same family on the second floor, we removed an old problem toilet and sink that hadn't worked in years. They had to wash their hands in the bathtub or go downstairs to the other bathroom to wash. We bought a ReStore used sink and faucet and put it in. While in the house one of our guys said, "Something doesn't smell right." Upon investigation in the basement, he discovered the house had a defective gas clothes dryer. The exhaust pipe was crushed in one area and exhaust fumes (and carbon monoxide) were backing up into the house! It is so wonderful that Lloyd spotted the problem before the family fell seriously ill. The GodFather must be watching out for them!

EMERGENCY MOVING HELP – Imagine having to move without any prior notice! Referred by the Ballard Food Bank, Patty, a 59-year-old woman called us in a panic. The basement apartment she rented flooded when water pipes froze in house above and then burst following our recent cold spell. The landlord gave her a couple of days to move everything out before the work crew came to tear out carpets and sheet-rock and begin repairs. She had no warning, no place to go, and no place to store her personal items. Over a couple of days our guys helped pack and box items, take extra things to the thrift store and dispose of things she couldn't store or use. Patty didn't have any extra funds for a move and a shoulder injury restricted how much she could lift or reach. She was so grateful to find some generous men who took time off just a few days before Christmas to help her out. That's what we do – help people who are truly stuck!

Sam's Club makes donation!

  

AN OFFER WE COULDN'T REFUSE – Just before Christmas we received a phone call from a representative from Sam's Club. She said they had a surprise Christmas gift for our organization and we should come out to pick it up. Picking up his violin case and fedora hat, Gino drove out to the store to receive a big check...and we don't just mean in physical dimensions! They donated $1,000 for us to use however we see fit! They also gave Gino a few minutes to speak at the early morning employee meeting to about 20 of their workers and tell them about the projects we have done to help those in need in the community. And, of course, he let them know who we work for ... the GodFather. Thank you, Sam's Club for giving us a boost!

November 2009 Hits
         
Repairing water damaged plaster walls; cutting sheetrock; repaired walls; plumbing assistance.

SINK OR SWIM – We assigned most of our volunteers on Saturday to work on a 100-year-old house. We helped a grandma who lives on Crown Hill with her single-mom daughter and two grand-kids ages 7 and 9. The daughter works full-time not only providing for her kids but also taking care of her mother who has mobility issues. The grandma told me that she has owned her home for 44 years, has a husband with Alzheimers in a nursing home and the family attends a nearby church. This old house needs a lot of work and is many years behind in maintenance. The kitchen sink had just clogged up and the family had to do dishes in the bathroom sink. If they weren't careful with the sink or they would all be swimming! Even though he was a first-time attender to our MOB breakfast, Philip drove home, brought back his plumbing kit, unclogged the sink, and installed a new p-trap. He also fixed a front door which wouldn't close all the way and allowed cold air to blow in. He then reconnected a shower drainpipe under the house that had come loose. Thanks, Philip!

MOB GETS PLASTERED – (Actually, we did the plastering and a wall got plastered!) At the same house we repaired a large area at the top of the stairs where water damage had occurred from a leaking roof. The roof was fixed about a year ago but a large section of plaster, about four by six feet, had separated from the lath and fallen down. Several of the men went out and bought sheet rock and "mud" while others prepped the wall and ceiling for repair. We also replaced a broken toilet seat and fixed some kitchen cabinet doors. The upstairs bathroom sink is rusty and worn and does not have working faucets. We have a replacement sink ready for volunteers to install.



HOME CHECK – Two of our guys spent a couple of hours at a 93-year-old woman's residence doing a safety check and some minor repairs. Emma suffers from macular degeneration and is legally blind. She said she probably shouldn't be up on a ladder changing light bulbs. So, after a 10-15 minute grilling as to who these men were who had come to her door, the guys replaced several burned out light bulbs and checked several electrical problems with her stove. 



PLUMBING REPAIR – Another opportunity to help came our way to help a cancer patient whose toilet had suddenly stopped working. The water wouldn't flow in to fill his toilet tank. It was an easy fix. One of the guys went out and bought and installed a new toilet float valve – something the gentleman is unable do because of his extreme pain from cancer treatments. 



October 2009 Hits

    
The MOB meets for breakfast. Thanks to our volunteer cooks from United EFC. We are hooked on your breakfast burritos!

WE HAD TO SHELF THIS JOB – Leslie was referred to us by the Mayor's Office for Seniors & Disabled. (Imagine the mayor's office cooperating with The MOB!) She recently purchased a new shelf unit that needed to be picked up in the U-district and assembled in her apartment. She had no way to pick it up. She is a former school teacher with lots of reference books and can do no heavy lifting due to her disability. We assembled three book shelf units and moved some of the books around for her, too.

WE HELPED A CANCER PATIENT and his wife with some minor repairs on two leaky toilet water tanks which will help save on their water bills. Jim has inoperable cancer and is in chemo and radiation therapy. He complains of being cold and wanted a portable heater, which we were able to supply thanks to a donated electric heater. We didn't do much but hopefully they were encouraged by our acts of kindness.

AUTO REPAIR – A disabled person needed someone to change out a car battery, start up her car, and get an oil change. The car has not run for a year. Martha hasn't gotten out due to poor health and wants the car to be able to attend doctor appointments and local errands. There is more to be repaired as the radiator needs to be replaced.

SMART MOVE – We helped do some minor repairs and moving for Single Mothers Acquiring Resources and Training (SMART). This clothing bank ministry was started by Philadelphia Church and provides clothing for babies, infants, and children as well as toys and women's clothing. We now need someone who knows about bikes to check out and tune up two donated kids bicycles.

YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE – We went to Teen Challenge Women's Center and purchased and installed a mailbox that had been smashed by vandals. We also replaced some burned out light bulbs to brighten up the hallways. We donated a vacuum because they had none that worked and are working on their computers.

COMPUTERS, LOVE 'EM OR LEAVE 'EM – Two of our guys picked up a computer from a disabled woman who uses her computer every day for email and keeping in contact with friends and family around the country. It had stopped working and she wanted us to check it out. It's an ancient computer, underpowered and too old to use, so we are on the lookout for a replacement one for her.

September 2009 Hits

THIS JOB FLOORED US –We helped a 56-year-old woman living on SSDI and suffering from MS and severe arthritis by installing new vinyl flooring in her bathroom. She had called around for bids from several professional contractors and they wanted a $500 minimum charge to do such a small project. We were able to pull the toilet and glue down the new flooring. We also put up some new curtain rods to replace old ones that had pulled out of the walls.

    
A biscuits & gravy breakfast breakfast before starting out on our Saturday projects. New sign installed at TC.

A SIGN OF THE TIMES –Teen Challenge, a Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for women, has been on Crown Hill for several years.  Yet, they have had no extra funds to put a sign outside their facility. We were able to "go green" on this project with some creative recycling. The Gardens at Juanita Bay, a senior residence in Kirkland, donated their old sign to The MOB. We purchased a recycled plywood backer board from the ReStore, thenpainted and installed the new sign on some new donated 4x4 posts. (Photo shows the new sign with the temporary angle supports still attached, due to the wet cement.)

COMPUTER BITS AND BYTES – One of our guys tackled the job of helping Teen Challenge with their office computers. He has run an anti-virus program, set up the wireless network, and is going to set up a backup system. (They had no backup!) He is now working on getting the donated computers (see August 09 hits) for the residents checked out, repaired and networked. They women have to do all their homework by longhand writing in notebooks. It will be good for them to learn computer skills by having the new computers. Thanks, Mike! They still need a good black and white laser printer to be donated.

        
HOME ASSISTANCE – The MOB helped an 83-year-old woman, who is unable to walk and is totally housebound, with several household projects. We fixed a 4" hole in the wall caused by a doorknob from a door that banged the wall. A bedroom closet shelf was installed (another recycled item from one of our guys). We removed old caulking around the bathroom sink and squeezed in new caulk. We moved three bookcases into her living room. Then sorted and organized her large piles of books, and put them on the shelves. A couple of men washed and cleaned out her fridge, which hadn't been cleaned in years. Just a few hours work made a lot of difference. There is no way she could have done it herself.

SNIP, SNIP HERE AND A SNIP, SNIP THERE... – A woman in her 70s called us for help with some minor trimming on her trees and bushes. She said she really shouldn't be climbing up on ladders doing this type of work. We totally agree! We were going to cancel out on this project due to heavy rain the night before and in the morning. But two guys said, "It's not raining now and we have the tools." So they went over to her house and trimmed away. Thanks, guys.
 
August 2009 Hits

WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST – This month we invaded Perinatal Treatment Services. This North Seattle agency provides 2–6 month residential treatment and recovery services to over 20 pregnant, chemically dependent women and/or mothers of children under age 6. Many have a past history of physical abuse. Many are homeless and all are low or no income. Some rehab programs do not take women with children, so PTS serves a real need in our community to keep mothers and their children together. Funding has been cut back and they are in need of facility maintenance.

Through some "persuasion" from the MOB, in just two weeks, two Ballard churches collected hygiene kits and over $500 cash to purchase items for our workday at PTS. The kits were filled with shampoo and conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, baby hygiene items, diapers, disposable razors, soap and deodorant. We helped to bring the PTS back patio and yard into better shape, so the toddlers have a safe place to play and the women will have a peaceful place to relax in the sunshine. We purchased sand to fill a child's sandbox and toys to play with in the sand. We trimmed overgrown bushes and trees that were blocking the play area, and weeded the yard. 560 pounds of trimmings were hauled to the dump. Thanks everyone for making a difference!



COMPUTERS DONATED TO TEEN CHALLENGE –  Ascentium, local company in Bellevue, heard about The MOB and contacted us regarding the need for computers at the Teen Challenge Seattle Women's Center. They were upgrading their computers and gave us six complete computer systems with flat screen monitors!! Rich Printz delivered them to the center and they are thrilled to have them for the women to use. Now we need to get the Microsoft operating systems donated and a get a printer for the center.

JUST SAY YES TO DRUGS (the good kind!) – A 58-year-old disabled woman, whom we helped last year move to a new apartment, called and said she had no way to get to the pharmacy to pickup several prescriptions. She said she was quite embarrassed that she couldn't get them herself and had to call us. We were able to find a volunteer to pick them up and deliver them to her apartment. 

July 2009 Hits

          
CUT, CHOP, MOW – We helped do a yard touch-up for a 90-year-old disabled widow, living in Ballard. She is bound to a wheelchair and not able to do any kind of yard work and needed a helping hand. Her husband was a Ballard pastor many years ago and she was a little embarrassed about asking for help. For many years she has given to others. Now, we were happy for our work to place her on the receiving end. We trimmed trees and bushes, mowed, edged and raked her lawn and pulled weeds. When we were done, we hauled out 15 large bags of yard waste and trimmings. Ruth thanked us with chocolates and hand-crocheted hot pads (now that's a first!).

MOB COVER-UP – We put a final coat of paint on a storage shed owned by a Seattle couple who are teaching in Asia.

June 2009 Hits

    

   BEFORE AND AFTER
GARDEN MAKE-OVER FOR CANCER PATIENT. We helped Cindy who was laid off from her job at the end of 2008 and then got the devastating news of breast cancer. We joined with the Linda Lyons Foundation and the Green Thumb Garden Club for an annual one day make-over event called "Yards of Hope" to help and encourage a cancer patient. There were about 25 people helping. Her large yard had become overgrown and Cindy was not able to maintain it. We cut the grass, trimmed bushes and trees, pulled weeds, hauled trash, power-washed yard furniture, stacked firewood, built a lattice screen around an oil tank, built a timber terrace flower garden and filled it with soil, repaired a stone stairway, and more! Meanwhile the garden club weeded, trimmed, mulched, watered and planted dozens of plants. At the late afternoon "reveal," Cindy returned home from lunch and a movie with a friend and was thrilled at all that we accomplished. It was truly a dramatic make-over. She looked all around at our handy work and kept repeating, "This is amazing." Overall it was amazing at all that was accomplished. We're sure it would have cost thousands of dollars for all the materials, dump fees, and time that was donated. She was thrilled and so encouraged by what we all did. I think the GodFather is very pleased. Don't you?

           

        
MOVIN' ON UP... DISABLED MAN MOVED TO NEW APARTMENT – We helped Jerry, a man in his late 40's who is living on disability and Social Security income to move to a new apartment in Ballard. He suffers from agoraphobia and other medical issues and had no extra money to make the move. We moved him from Lake City to Ballard to be closer to doctors, stores, his dentist, etc. He was living in a bad neighborhood which made him more fearful to go outside and due to distance had to take a bus or taxi just to go to the grocery store. Jerry is so happy to be in Ballard. But it was kind of a crazy week, when Jerry called the day before the move with a broken tooth and was in tremendous pain. We found a dentist to take him on an emergency basis and took him to the dentist to get the tooth pulled. Then that evening the landlord wouldn't release the keys to the new apartment due to lack of approval by the Seattle city housing, and we had to cancel the move scheduled for the next day, . But the GodFather was good, when on short notice 8 mobsters showed up on the following Tuesday evening to help Jerry move, which was more men than was planned for Saturday! And Budget Truck Rental didn't charge us a cancellation fee. Way to go, guys!

CARPET INSTALLED FOR SENIOR – The MOB was unable to install a used carpet for D.S., a widow woman whose carpet was badly stained and worn out. One of our men placed an ad on Craigslist to see if anyone could help and Andre came to the rescue! He is a professional carpet layer who drove all the way up from Lakewood on Father's Day to install the living room and hall pad and carpet—no charge, no strings attached. He even paid for the tack strips. The timing couldn't have been better because D.S. was released from a rehab center the very next day after being there for several weeks due to serious ankle fractures after a fall. If you ever need to hire a carpet layer, Andre is the man!! Thanks, Andre.

May 2009 Hits

     
CARPETBAGGERS & PAINTERS – We returned to help a low income 83 year-old woman living in Magnolia. We pulled out her worn-out, pet-damaged living room and hall carpets, along with hundreds of staples which held down the old padding, and took the carpet to the dump. We also washed the living room ceiling, walls and venetian blinds. We painted the whole room with a fresh coat of paint. Then we painted the plywood floor to seal out pet odors. We also purchased and installed a new garbage disposal. Now her dishwasher can be used again after years of not working. Whew! All this done in just a couple of hours.

   
BUILD NEW SHELVING AT DISABLED GROUP HOME – A Ballard group home for five disabled adults needed some food pantry shelves built and installed. A carpenter who joined the group donated his time during the week to build new sturdy custom shelves. Then we installed them and stocked the shelves with food. It was professional job and the group home staff and residents were thrilled to have the new shelves and organized pantry.

ORGANIZING HELP – This project was completed by two women from United EFC who helped a woman with limited vision and other disabilities to organize her bills and home filing. They spent a couple of hours in the evening helping to get her caught up on paperwork. Thanks to Nancy and Nelia, our mobettes (is that a word?)  or should I say the WOB (Women of Ballard)?

April 2009 Hits

GROUP HOME CHORES – We returned to the Ballard Group Home for minor repairs to a garbage disposal, other repairs, and to clean mold off a bathroom ceiling, so that the home will pass a Seattle city inspection.


              
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...  – Two of the MOB returned to D.S.'s house during the week to try once more to clear a stopped up kitchen drain. A plumber gave D.S. a bid of $2,000 to unplug the sink and replace drain lines but we were able to clear the obstruction and the pipes still have a few good years in them. So, she will not have to get a loan to get her plumbing fixed. "It's a miracle!" she told us. Thanks to Roy "The Snake" and his electric powered 25 foot long plumber's snake, he was able to clear the obstruction. For the first time in years, D.S. has water in the kitchen. On Saturday eight men showed up to do a deep cleaning of the kitchen and dinette walls, ceiling, floors, windows and stove. One of our guys worked for three hours just washing dirty pots, pans, dishes and utensils (don't let Matt's wife know what he can really do!). And another mobster worked the whole time on cleaning the bathroom. D.S. is one happy senior and said she can keep it all clean from here on out.

March 2009 Hits

Three new men showed up to get acquainted with The MOB and join us for our March breakfast, followed by a few hours of service to the community. They came from Ballard First Lutheran Church, United Evangelical Free Church, and Philadelphia Church.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE... – In this case it was. A Ballard group home for 5 disabled adults needed to replace a broken light fixture in a bathroom. Just the kind of job we like to handle. We went out and found a new one and wired it in. Under the kitchen sink, the bottom board in the cabinet was badly warped from a water leak and our team replaced it, as well.

PLUMBING ASSISTANCE – The City of Seattle told us about an 83-year-old woman who has lived for years with a stopped up kitchen sink drain and does her dishes in the bathroom sink. We snaked down the drain as far as the snake would reach but this is one job that has the best of us. We couldn't get the water to drain. For the first time, we hit a problem we couldn't fix. With much elbow grease, the team also got a good start on a much-needed deep cleaning of her kitchen.

     
SIMPLY ELECTRIFYING! – We returned to Cathy's house to replace an old stove that had bad wiring, wasn't working, and was ready for "retirement." One of our men donated a beautiful glass-top stove, which the team installed. Now Cathy (who is disabled) and Scott can finally use their oven without worry about a electrical short. We also did a complete bathroom cleanup (thanks to Jeri B. for coming along and her hard work!). Also, did some more yard work.

February 2009 Hits

IS THERE A CAR DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE? – A young woman in Ballard, whose mother recently passed away and whose father is seriously ill, was given a car to use but it hasn't run for a couple of months. Several guys replaced the dead battery and got the car running again. She is a student and needs the car to get to cosmetology school.

MISCELLANEOUS REPAIRS AT DISABLED GROUP HOME – At a Ballard group home for five disabled adults, we assigned a couple of guys to assemble some metal food pantry shelves and check out other needs. More maintenance needs to be done. We will go back to install a new light fixture in a bathroom and repair a warped base board under the kitchen sink.

    
BUILD HANDICAP RAMP, CUT TREES, CLEAN ROOF AND GUTTERS – Cathy, a woman with serious health issues, was just released from a rehab center following being in and out of rehab and hospital care since November. Her husband works nights and has his hands full caring for his wife who can only walk short distances. We helped them prepare the house and yard for her to be able to navigate with a walker. We built a handicapped ramp to get from the kitchen to outside. A bunch of stuff was taken from the house to the dump to make more walking room. We cut down two trees and cleared pine needles from the roof and gutters. We also cleaned up and organized a covered patio. Upon hearing of Cathy's needs, two women friends of ours wanted to get into the action. Two weeks later, they volunteered 6 hours of time to help her organize and clean up her bedroom. We can use more ladies like these who have a heart to help others.

January 2009 Hits

HANDYMAN REPAIRS – We were asked to do minor repairs at a disabled adult group home in Ballard. This home was started over 25 years ago by five couples with handicapped adult children. They pooled their resources to buy a home in Ballard for their family members, some of whom have outside jobs, and staffed the home with outside chore helpers and cooks. The parents only own this one Ballard house, don't do fund-raising and keep it a simple operation. Now the couples are in their 70s, 80s and 90s and can't do the necessary household repairs themselves. We were glad help fix those annoying little things that needed some attention and repair.

POWER-WASHING – We spent a few hours doing power-washing, raking and yard cleanup at a house run by a nonprofit that works with children and teens in Ballard.

SALUTE! – We made a return visit to a young mother whose husband is in the National Guard and was called up to serve in the Middle East. We fixed a loose bed frame for her son, helped organize the garage, and better secured her windows for safety. Also, we are helping to get rid of some pesky raccoons that moved in under her house and are pulling down the insulation. Ornery critters!

"HELLO, DOLLY"  – A woman whom we met a week prior at the Ballard Senior Center called and asked if we could help tow her car from Ballard to a mechanic at the top of Crown Hill. What are the chances of asking 25 men by email if anyone has a tow dolly to use the next day? Have you known anyone who's ever even used one? Well, this ranks right up there with a miracle. On the very day that she needed her car towed, one of our men emailed right back that he was renting a tow dolly that very day to move a car he had just bought for parts! Incredible!! Think the GodFather had anything to do with the timing of that one?

   
PACK IT INTO STORAGE – Six men made quick work of helping a local couple who have moved overseas to work in Asia. Earlier in the month we helped to oversee construction of a new storage shed for them. Then in two hours we moved all their boxes and personal items from temporary storage into the new shed. Many hands make light work!

December 2008 Hits

CHANGED DOOR LOCKS – We received an urgent call from a young single mother who had just become a victim of domestic abuse. "Emily" had a boyfriend who tried to run her over with her own truck and then kicked in the front door to her house. She and her children were frightened and called the police but the boyfriend fled before police arrived. "Emily" feared for her safety as her boyfriend has keys to the house. After getting a no-contact order from the courthouse the next day, two men from The MOB arrived to change her locks. She feels much safer with her doors secured.  With sincere thanks she and her kids cooked up some home-made Christmas cookies for us to enjoy. Yum!

BED FOR NEEDY FAMILY – One of our men heard of a need for a family of four whose two children were sleeping on the floor because they didn't have a bed. The father had just been laid off his job a month earlier. On his own, the Man of Ballard donated a bunk bed that he owned and brought it to the family in Everett. The kids were very excited to finally have a bed to sleep in.

November 2008 Hits

     
THANKS FOR BREAKFAST! – Teen Challenge, a woman's live-in treatment center for addictions hosted and cooked the Saturday breakfast for all us men before we went out to do our various projects. Thank you, ladies!! The table decorations of hand tools, nails, glue, etc. was a such a great joke and totally appropriate. Much better than any sissy flowers! And the hot breakfast was wonderful. We were really touched by the ladies' stories of life transformation because of the Teen Challenge program. The Center is located on Crown Hill (North Ballard) and operates on contributions and house cleaning jobs by the ladies.

     
IT'S A JUNGLE OUT THERE – Six guys (including one of the new men, Lloyd, shown above) practiced the art of giving as they cleared out a jungle of ivy, wild trees and blackberry vines for Elizabeth, a woman in her 70's who called The MOB for help. She was in despair because the health department planned to fine her $25 a day until she got the overgrown property under control. It was a nasty, back-breaking job but we conquered with 6 pickup loads to the dump. When we finished Elizabeth was happy, but the neighbors were even happier!

     
"Isn't there supposed to be a post right here?"

WHAT A BUNCH OF ROT!  – We repaired the two rotted posts supporting a small front porch roof of a disabled woman living in a small house on Crown Hill. Who knows what was still holding her roof up? Yankee ingenuity resulted in using two car jacks and a bunch of plastic milk crates to lift up the roof for the repairs! We can get pretty creative when we have to.

UP FOR THE CHALLENGE – Several guys worked on repairing broken exit lights and sawing and replacing rotten deck stairs for the Teen Challenge women's center on Crown Hill. Thanks, men. Too bad you missed out on the fun of the jungle trimming job!!
 

October 2008 Hits

    
SERVING THOSE WHO SERVE US – Seven of us helped a young mother whose husband was called by the National Guard to serve in Afganistan and Iraq. He has left for training and will be gone for over a year. This family of four not only faces the challenges of separation but their income has taken a big hit as well. To encourage the family we repaired and moved furniture in the house, fixed a broken fence, hauled trash to the dump and helped organize her garage. We were rewarded by a child's smile, a mom's hug and many kind words of thanks.

JOE THE PLUMBER? – It was really "JOHN the Plumber" who was in the news here in Ballard. He spent five hours unplugging a couple of stopped up sinks at Teen Challenge. It required a trip out to get a longer plumber's snake to get the drains working again. Not an easy job. Thanks John H.!

September 2008 Hits

    
BRUSHING UP ON HOUSE PAINTING SKILLS – We were asked by Parkview Services, a local nonprofit which provides housing and friendship for disabled adults, to paint the outside of one of their group homes in Ballard. Three adults in wheelchairs live here. This is our biggest job to date!! We spent three separate weekends to power wash, scrape, prime and prep. Eight men helped on the final weekend to brush on the final coats of paint.

SINK OR SWIM – One of our men replaced the kitchen faucet at Teen Challenge, a Christian rehabilitation center for women dealing with addictions. The faucet wasn't just dripping...it was a flood down below the sink! Thanks John H. for your plumbing help.

August 2008 Hits

MOVING JOB HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS – Two of our men helped a disabled man, suffering from bipolar disorder, to move into a new apartment on Capital Hill. One of our men loaned his personal truck for the job. The old apartment was on the 5th floor and the new one was several miles away on the 11th floor. One of our volunteers could only work for about 1 1/2 hours, so the other mobster volunteer ended up working with a friend of the tenant from 9 am to 7 pm! A very long day. Way to go, John M.! Sorry there weren't more volunteers who could help out.

MOVING ASSISTANCE – We helped Marty, a woman who had been in the hospital with life-threatening blood clots for over a month, can barely walk, and is now unable to work. Susan H. volunteered her time to The MOB to help Marty pack during the week. Marty moved to a nearby apartment on Crown Hill and had volunteers from Catholic Services to pack the moving van but needed help with the unloading, which we gladly helped her with.

July 2008 Hits

LET THE SUNSHINE IN –  We made a return trip to the widow we helped last month and replaced a shattered living room window and glazed in the new glass. We also repaired the sash weights in her bedroom window, so it could be opened safely and provide ventilation in the hot weather. It was a small crew that showed up to work (only three of us) but it is amazing to see is how each month we have had just enough men to match up with requests for assistance!

GOING GREEN – One mobster and his wife visited a house-bound Ballard woman who just needed helping hand in removing a large pile of paper recycling from her apartment and putting it in the dumpster. We also moved a couple of large objects around that she was unable to move. She is a sweet lady and we were glad to help. (We meet the nicest people while out on doing our random hits of kindness!)

June 2008 Hits

ORGANIZING HELP – We put together an IKEA closet organizer system for Mildred 87-year-old widow. She retired from a career in the army, so we knew that we had to do it right! When we thought we were done, we discovered the phones didn't work. We had cut some old phone lines connected to a non-working security system to put in the closet system (oops!!).  Once we repaired the phone lines, we passed inspection and were dismissed. The following week a woman friend of ours, Susan H., who is a specialist in home organizing, came by and offered some help and encouragement in sorting out the overload of household "stuff" in this widow's house.

SPRING CLEANING – Yard clean up, edging, weeding, trimming a tree which was hitting the house, and hauling away an old fence and trash (600 pounds!). It was something the 89-year-old woman living on 8th Ave NW could never have done alone.

CLEAN OUT THE GUTTERS – Two of our men felt on top of the world as they climbed 24-foot extension ladders to clean out the gutters of a single senior who lives on 20th Ave NW. They almost needed a weed whacker since the job hadn't been done in so long and grass was really growing up there!

 
ASSISTANCE IN FINDING AN APARTMENT – One of our guys helped our new friend Jerry, who we met last month and has no transportation, to view several available apartments. He found one in his price range and was approved by the manager to move in. Yea! We had a bunch of guys give him a hand with the moving. A friend of ours, Liz K., came along and she unpacked and set up his whole kitchen. Thanks, Liz!

PLUMBING — Floyd did a 20 minute repair for a single mother, on a troublesome water pipe going to a refrigerator, saving this young mom a house-call from a plumber and a large bill.

May 2008 Hits

  
Broken gate (before) and newly installed gate and fence (after).

OUTDOOR MAKEOVER — On our monthly work day we sent a team to help "Rosie" a 63-year-old disabled woman who needed assistance. To keep her dogs from running away, she asked for a gate to be installed in her side yard. She had hobbled together some wire and broken indoor baby gates which just didn't do the job. Thanks to Craigslist we found a used wooden gate and fencing! We installed the gate and cemented a section of fence into the ground. We then repaired another gate that had fallen down. We cut down two diseased cedar trees blocking her front door (by hand because our electric chain saw didn't work!). Her torn front screen door was repaired. We fixed the hinges on a broken front door which she was unable to lock and now she can feel safe again. We installed a new mailbox she had purchased. We got her lawn mower running. And the parking strip was cleaned up. Whew!

PACKING IT UP — A 47-year-old man named Jerry, living on disability and social security, told us he had called all over Seattle to various agencies, even the Red Cross, and said no one returned his calls or said they could help him. He said The MOB was the only group who would help. He is being forced out of his apartment but didn't want much. All he wanted was help in packing to prepare to move to a new apartment and to dispose of items he no longer needed. So, we brought boxes and packing tape, helped take apart a dining table, moved boxes around, and took items to the thrift store. Another couple sold many of his items at their own garage sale. So, he was able to get some money for what he would have had to leave behind. He was so appreciative.

SLEEP ON IT — A retired volunteer performed a couple of separate "hits" at Teen Challenge, a local women's drug rehabilitation center located on Crown Hill. They needed a bunk bed put together but there were parts of it missing that had to be constructed. After purchasing wood and hardware for the side rails, he stained and varnished the rails to match the headboard. Later he took a lawnmower home and repaired a broken pull-cord so the mower would run. Thanks, John!

COMMUNITY HELP FROM A BALLARD AUTO MECHANIC — The MOB paid a little visit to a local auto repair service in Ballard. One of our mobsters leaned on the owner to "persuade" him to volunteer his auto repair services. He said yes! So, we delivered a van owned by Teen Challenge which would not run without jumper cables. He checked it all out and did some minor repairs on the vehicle and now it runs great. Thanks, Rodger, for taking time away from your own customers and giving back to your community!

April 2008 Hits – Our first projects!

 

HIT THE DECK! — This was our first project as a group. We rebuilt a small patio deck and back stairs for a disabled man and his family who live on Crown Hill. Their old steps and deck were rotting and unsafe. Thanks to the men who did demolition and then rebuilt the deck and added back steps with a handrail before the man was released from the physical rehab center. Now the disabled father can get in and out of the house safely. You guys did a professional job and all seemed to be having such a great time! Thank you, Lee for heading up the project and to Ralph, Brent, Will, Floyd, and John for swinging hammers and running saws.



 

WHITE WALLS ARE LIKE A BLANK CANVAS CRYING OUT FOR COLOR — This month we painted some accent walls in the apartment of Marnie, a disabled single mom, who was getting a hip replacement in April. She was so thankful and was able to come home to a cheerful, colorful apartment. She said it would have taken her weeks to do it herself, if at all, and when we left she had a big smile on her face. She said, "It's nice to have a man around the house... make that 6 men around the house!"

MOVE IT OUT — We also helped a disabled senior gentleman, who is moving out of state, to dispose of his furniture and household items in his apartment. He had no way of moving or selling them. Too bad for our volunteers that he lived on the third floor with no elevator!! Thanks, Brent, Matt, and Will.

An offer we couldn't refuse ... $1,000 donated to The MOB!

One concern with beginning the group was having money for start-up, for projects, and publicity. This need was answered in a totally unexpected way—from a teenager!! On March 23rd, a Ballard High School student donated the proceeds from her senior service project, a huge rummage sale at her high school, to The MOB. She and her friends spent many hours planning, pricing, and working at the sale and wanted the money to benefit a nonprofit benefiting the Ballard community. She chose The MOB. Thank you, JoAnne! Your gift will impact many Ballard people who are in need.

Voice mailbox donated!

We now have a voice mail where individuals can leave a message: 206-971-9600. This number was donated to us by a local nonprofit! This will be helpful for those who do not have computers or email capabilities to reach us.

Kickoff meeting held on February 23, 2008

The MOB Moves into Ballard!  The Men of Ballard (MOB) had our kickoff organizational breakfast. 16 men from two Ballard churches showed up to brainstorm and enjoy a stack of hotcakes. Our new group will be made up of men from various churches of Ballard with one main purpose – to do acts of service for widows, elderly, immigrants, single moms, local ministries, etc. We decided as a general rule to meet once a month for breakfast, followed by a few hours of work performed by small teams going out into the community for projects. We will also take on small urgent projects in between as men are available.