Bridge Communities gets a hand in honor of Sept. 11
As part of the National Day of Service, technicians from Mr. Handyman of Wheaton will perform 32 combined man-hours of repair and maintenance jobs for Bridge Communities, all without a collecting a single penny in labor costs.
On Monday, Sept. 10, Mr. Handyman owner Wayne Owczarzak, along with his wife, Kim, and three technicians go to work for Bridge Communities, a nonprofit organization devoted to helping homeless families in DuPage County through programs that focus on housing, mentoring, and empowerment. Their to-do list projects will include sprucing up the main office and remodeling and upgrading the entire basement of a transitional housing complex in Glen Ellyn.
This project is an example of a national effort through Mr. Handyman, in which technicians from coast to coast are encouraged to reach out to a local charity, organization or individual in need to offer their services in fixing up living areas, kitchens, bathrooms or anything else that comes to mind. All projects will take place the week of Sept. 10 in recognition of the National Day of Service.
“We are thrilled to be working with Bridge Communities as part of Mr. Handyman’s National Day of Service campaign,” Owczarzak said. “We are always looking for ways to give back to our community and we are excited to be a part of a national operation to help those in need.”
The National Day of Service and Remembrance was established in 2009 as a way to encourage Americans to participate in service and remembrance activities on the Sept. 11 anniversary. This year, more than one million Americans are expected to serve in their communities in honor of Sept. 11, according to United We Serve, a national organization that supports the cause. The day is part of President Obama’s quest to renew America through volunteerism.
This marks the fourth consecutive year Mr. Handyman has rallied around the cause, donating a combined 2,400 hours of labor to groups in need over the past three years. The franchise will use their skilled technicians’ time this year with local fire stations and hopes to build on past efforts.
“Our brand is made up of local entrepreneurs who thrive in their communities, and there’s no better time for our franchisees to give back than on this day,” said Alex Roberts, president of Mr. Handyman. “During this time, it’s important to show the country what we’re capable of — honoring the lives and memories of 9/11 heroes past and present.”
For information, go to mrhandyman.com/national-day-of-service.aspx. To learn about Bridge Communities, visit bridgecommunities.org.
Bridge Communities is a dynamic, grass-roots, nonprofit organization committed to transforming the lives of homeless families in DuPage County through partnering with talented, resourceful individuals and groups in the community. Its program of transitional housing, mentoring and supportive services empowers the families to increase life skills and earning power to promote self-sufficiency, sustain permanent housing, and to break the cycle of poverty within the family unit.
Mr. Handyman is part of a network of independently owned and operated franchises with more than 200 locations throughout North America that provide commercial and residential property maintenance, repair and improvement services.