State police join forces with Rebuilding Together to lend helping hand
Published 8:00 pm Friday, October 4, 2013
Construction was in full swing Friday at Georgia Eaglin’s home on General Vandenburg Street.
Hammers, drills, paintbrushes and other home repair equipment dotted the yard as state troopers from across Southwest Louisiana worked together to repair Eaglin’s home.
Troopers replaced rotten boards, installed a new air conditioner unit and painted the home.
State police were working in conjunction with Rebuilding Together.
“I appreciate it to the highest,” Eaglin said. “They did such a beautiful job.
Eaglin, a retired state worker, painted the house herself when she retired, but it was in need of upkeep, said Troop D’s Brett Travis, who coordinated the troopers.
“We need this, especially with this little (retirement) income I’m on,” Eaglin said.
Troopers found a snake in the wall of the house and burnt wires in the old air conditioner.
Eaglin had been hearing noises in the wall, but thought it was something outside, although there was a hole that she had not been able to close herself, she said.
Travis said the job was part of state police’s effort to be “part of the community, not apart from it,” quoting state police superintendent Mike Edmonson.
“Different guys have different talents,” said Troop D spokesman James Anderson, who was painting eaves. “Some are good at woodworking, some are good at painting — things you don’t have to be a professional to do, but if you’re elderly and can’t do this things yourself, it’s a Godsend.”
Local state police first got involved with Rebuilding after Hurricane Rita, Troop D Commander Chris Guillory said.
“So many homes were damaged, including troopers’ homes,” he said.
Guillory said before local state police work on a house, a trooper goes to inspect the home and meet the person.
“It’s one of several things we do to reach out to the community,” Guillory said.
Tasked with finding volunteers, Rebuilding Together turned to law enforcement in 2006, director Susan Mestayer said.
In addition to state police, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department and Iowa Police Department all work with Rebuilding Together, she said. Each year, the agencies compete to see who volunteers the most, an honor local state police won last year, Mestayer said.
Eaglin’s home is the first of seven Rebuilding Together plans to repair this fall.
“They work on homes for those with low income, the elderly and the disabled,” Mestayer said. “Basically what we’re doing is making sure homes are safe, secure and weatherproof.”
Eaglin has a plan to return the favor.
“When it gets cold, I’m going to make y’all a good gumbo,” she told Anderson.
“Don’t make us feel like we’re making this big sacrifice because it makes us feel good,” he told her.
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People interested in volunteering or suggesting a home for repairs may call Rebuilding Together at 478-1755.
Construction was in full swing Friday at Georgia Eaglin’s home on General Vandenburg Street. Hammers
drills