Manassas Journal Messenger | Methodists Mend-a-House
Circular saws sang out Saturday at 9337 King George Drive in Manassas.
Men with levels, hammers, wood chisels and shovels kept busy building a ramp at the home of Robin Din and his wife, Nancy.
The men were from the Manassas St. Thomas United Methodist Church, and they were working with Project Mend-a-House to build the ramp for Robin, who is confined to a wheelchair.
Nancy said she was thankful for the help.
“He can’t take the steps,” she said.
Robin Din, 79, has to have kidney dialysis three times a week, and Nancy Din has back problems. She can’t help her husband down the stairs.
An Air compressor to power a nail gun rumbled occasionally to life as the workers nailed the planks to the ramp’s frame.
Larry Tusing, 47, ran a miter saw in the middle of the Din’s front yard.
Tusing, a carpenter, liked helping out on Saturday.
“This is great. This is for people who need help,” he said. “I don’t make a lot of money, so I can’t give monetarily. It’s just my time.”
Steve Verosko said people are supposed to help out their neighbors.
“It’s important to give something back to the community,” the 35-year-old chemical salesman said.
Jeff Jones said he felt proud about helping Project Mend-A-House.
“I’m just doing my part. I like to help out,” the 47-year-old said. “I’ll bring my kids over and say, ‘Hey this is the ramp I helped build.’ “
Ernie Kish of Project Mend-a-House designed the ramp that the Dins so sorely needed.
Money for the ramp came from a Virginia Rehabilitative Services Incentive Funds grant, said a Project Mend-A-House press release.
Kish said the volunteers worked between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
The ramp is unfinished, but will be completed within the next week, Kish said.