Monday, Jun. 02, 2008

Volunteers brighten woman's day by painting her mobile home

When Lois Mitchell of Ceres received a note from her mobile home park's property manager in late April stating that she needed to make some cosmetic improvements to her mobile home -- in seven days -- she didn't know what to do.

Mitchell, a 74-year-old retiree who was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago, lives on a fixed income. She didn't have the money to hire someone to paint her mobile home's exterior and has no family members in the area who could help.

She asked the property manager to extend her deadline. And then she got on the phone and started calling agencies she thought could help.

One call she made was to Modesto's Catholic Charities. Mitchell was familiar with the organization because she is one of their transportation clients. The nonprofit agency arranges for volunteers to drive seniors to and from medical appointments.

After the group's transportation coordinator heard about Mitchell's plight, she quickly put out a call for volunteers.

On Saturday, more than half a dozen people -- nearly all of whom Mitchell had never met -- spent a big chunk of the day at Voyager's Cove Mobile Home Park, 2845 E. Hatch Road, administering some TLC to the only home Mitchell has known since 1980.

"She was very touched by the whole thing," said Monica Ramos, Catholic Charities' program director. "She was very gracious, grateful and appreciative that people gave up their Saturday to help her."

Volunteer Windi Centeno of Modesto arrived at Mitchell's home with her 13-year-old daughter, Whitney Oli- veira, and another friend. Centeno, a 33-year-old mother of four, frequently looks for volunteer opportunities.

"I want her to learn about humanity and how you help people who need it," Centeno said, referring to her daughter. "I think that more people should volunteer. With the way the economy is going, things are going to get harder for people. And if you don't help your neighbor, who will help you? It all comes down to what you've done with your life to help make a difference."

When Hughson's Debra Beck, 49, heard Mitchell's home needed to be painted, she knew she could help. A professional house painter for 10 years, the Hughson woman showed up Friday at Mitchell's to do prep work, including washing the mobile home to remove dirt and debris.

Saturday, Beck returned with friend Roseanna Cummings of Keyes and several gallons of paint. She spent the day painting, scraping and touching up. Cummings helped paint and used a hammer to tighten some loose fence boards around the property.

Beyer High School junior Eleann Camelo thought nothing of giving up a Saturday to help someone in need.

"It made me feel good that I was doing something good for her," Eleann, 16, said.

When all the work was completed, the spruced-up mobile home sported two new coats of paint with blue trim. Mitchell, meanwhile, sported a wide and sometimes teary-eyed smile.

The work the volunteers did "would have been more than I could afford," Mitchell said. "I appreciate their help so much."

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Catholic Charities, call 529-3784.

Bee staff writer Donna Birch can be reached at dbirch@modbee.com or 578-2309.