This year for MLK Day I volunteered with a weatherization team organized by Southface Energy Institute (read the original post here).  I was one of approximately 1,300 volunteers providing home repairs and yard work for Decatur’s senior citizens. I recently received an update from Lee Ann Harvey with Volunteer! Decatur that summarizes our impact. In total 7,628 hours were donated, which correlates to a value of $162,934.08 based on Independent Sector (http://www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time) calculation. Below are some of the highlights from Lee Ann’s email:

• Large-scale repairs (full three-day weekend projects) were made at 12 homes and 10 homes had less demanding small projects for a total of 22 homes receiving repairs.

• All but one of these homes also had yard work and / or miscellaneous items (broken or obsolete or no longer usable items) removed.

• Another 23 homes had yard work and / or miscellaneous items (broken, obsolete or no longer usable items) removed. This resulted in 45 senior citizens’ homes benefitting from this project. Also, the “Independent Communities” apartments of 14 people with disabilities living in five buildings had yard work done.

• 17 tons of yard waste (including 2,300 filled yard waste bags) and 30 tons of miscellaneous items were removed.

• Roving teams cleaned gutters at 22 homes.

• Skilled weatherization projects were undertaken with the help of the nonprofit organization Southface Energy institute, resulting in three homes being prepared for insulation (to be done at a later date). This work included airsealing ductwork and replacing crushed ductwork.

• Repairs and yard work were done with over 900 tools rented from the nonprofit Atlanta Community Tool Bank.

If you are interested in volunteering in Decatur, contact Lee Ann Harvey, Volunteer! Decatur, at 678-553-6548 or leeann.harvey@decaturga.com. You can learn more about the Decatur Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project at http://www.mlkserviceproject.com.