Mr. M’s Ramp
"This has totally changed our lives for the better." Westminster installed a walk-in shower and LP volunteers built the ramp and funded the project. A couple of other repairs later, Mr. M can get around independently in his fully functional home. Smiles all around.
Ms. C
Ms. C. is about to turn 80. She lives alone in her own home and is determined to maintain her independence. That has been a challenge lately because of a recent medical diagnosis and her history of falling. Her daughter brought these concerns to Westminster Home Connection’s attention and we went beyond their initial requests for handrails and replacement of rotten wood. Our construction staff built new handrails at Ms. C’s main entrance. We also modified her bathroom to make it more accessible, installed new smoke detectors, re-secured multiple doors, and patched exterior siding. Ms. C. enjoyed the staff’s company as they worked on her home. She even came out to inspect her new front porch railings as the team made finishing touches.
Moving Closer to Her Sister
The motive behind Ms. B.’s move was to be closer to her sister. Her move also made it easier for her to get around in her wheelchair, mainly because her new apartment was on the first floor.
Westminster Home Connection helped Ms. B. pack and move, and she chose to unpack at her own pace, taking time to arrange the apartment to her liking. She decorated her bookshelf with her son’s and husband’s trophies and medals. Her son was a star athlete in high school, and her husband was a decorated Vietnam veteran.
When she was done, Ms. B. asked us to pick up her moving boxes so they could be used to help a future client. Working with someone so considerate was a pleasure, and it was comforting to know she now lived close to her sister.
Ms. B in her new apartment
Davidson County Long-Term Recovery Group Reflection: One Year Into Tornado Recovery
Click HERE to access the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund 1-Year Report to the Community.
Several members of the Davidson County Long-Term Recovery Group (LTRG) reflect on the recovery efforts since the March 2020 tornadoes that devastated many of Nashville's iconic neighborhoods.
Keith Branson, Executive Director of Westminster Home Connection, joins representatives from the Nashville Mayor’s Office, the Community Resource Center, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Catholic Charities of Tennessee, the TN Conference of the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and Hands on Nashville to provide insight on the journey of recovery thus far.
Finding and serving tornado survivors — in the midst of a worldwide pandemic and economic crisis, no less — remains the laser-like focus of the LTRG, a volunteer collaboration of multiple organizations, including but not limited to nonprofit agencies, community civic and service groups, faith-based, and educational groups that meet and work together to address the long-term needs of Metro Nashville residents who have been affected by disaster.
As detailed in its bylaws, the LTRG’s mission is to provide coordinated management of the long-term recovery response to individuals in Nashville/Davidson County affected by disaster who do not have adequate personal resources, and stewards volunteer, material and financial resources by providing cost-effective and coordinated delivery of services so that survivors receive unduplicated assistance in a timely, efficient and equitable manner.
With more than 80 individuals representing 30 organizations participating on regularly scheduled calls, the group has, to date:
Identified the areas of greatest need;
Identified organizations capable of addressing those needs; and
Worked to ensure it is supporting each organization’s services while providing support to survivors from all of the impacted areas in Nashville.
Learn more at www.nashvillerelief.com.
The Christmas Present
Mr. P. has lived in his house since December 25, 1958. He calls home his Christmas present since his family moved from a trailer into the cozy brick home on Christmas day. He is not far from the Opry, where he worked as a stagehand until Covid put a pause on live shows.
Mr. P. misses his job, but he has found a way to stay involved with the music community. Another colleague of his also lost his job as a musician during Covid, and Mr. P. built a home for him out of a shed. Situated in his backyard, the shed is a remarkable structure that has been insulated and outfitted with running water and a window HVAC unit. Mr. P. has a strong philosophy about taking care of friends who fall on hard times. He put his advanced handyman skills to prevent homelessness for his friend, and he does a lot to maintain his own home as well.
A technical issue came up in Mr. P.’s home that required professional repairs. His water supply had weathered pipes. The kitchen faucet only produced a “drip” of water. Mr. P. used water from the bathroom to wash dishes. The bathroom water pressure is not good either. After Westminster Home Connection fixed these problems, his daily life has improved. “It has changed my life. I can now wash dishes without having to labor for the water every time. I can also take a shower in a normal time without having to wait for the trickle of water to wash me off.”
It's been very rewarding to lend a hand to a man so dedicated to helping others.
