Volunteers pitch in to help Hanover Park homeowner

Karla Hensley has been battling an expensive mold problem in her Hanover Park home for years, and she was grateful to get some much needed help with it on Saturday.

Over the course of four days, volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard and Wheaton-based DuPage Habitat for Humanity worked to build a better gutter and sump pump drainage system for Hensley's house. That included removing concrete, pouring new cement, digging trenches, and installing pipes and catch basins.

"They have such big hearts to come out and do this," Hensley said. "They are so hardworking, putting in their muscles and the sweat of their brow. It's amazing."

The effort was part of Habitat for Humanity's A Brush with Kindness national campaign this week, which focused on providing critical home repair and exterior work for those in need, said volunteer Jake Emrich of AmeriCorps VISTA.

DuPage Habitat is on pace to serve 26 families this year with projects including new construction and home repairs, Emrich said.

This is the third year for the partnership between the church and the nonprofit agency.

"This is a wonderful way for our members to get out in the community and serve others," the Rev. Steven Wagner said in a news release. "Jesus did not spend His days in the temple; He was out in the streets and the countryside," he said, adding, "We are pleased to partner with Habitat in helping to change the world one small corner at a time."

Church member Beth Moscatello of Glendale Heights said the reason she volunteers is simple.

"I love helping others," she said. "You're bringing positivity knowing that there are people out there that care."

Trinity's voters assembly approved funds for the Habitat commitment, and the Saturday work team planned to present Habitat site supervisor Chris Stello with a check for this and future projects.

Others, including volunteer Mike Ondek of Roselle, joined the effort after signing up through Habitat's website at dupagehabitat.org.

"I was looking for ways to help out with the community, and I found this," he said.

Hensley said she put in an application with DuPage Habitat in the spring and was elated to get a call informing her she'd been approved this summer.

"I know there are so many people in need," she said.

For more information about the church, call (630) 629-8765 or email churchinfo@TrinityLombard.org, or visit TrinityLombard.org.

For more information about DuPage Habitat for Humanity call (630) 510-3737, email dhfh@dupagehabitat.org or visit dupagehabitat.org.