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AmeriCares Volunteers To Fix Storm-Damaged Homes In Norwalk

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- A total of 19 Sandy-damaged homes in Norwalk, Stamford, Bridgeport and Milford as well as one in Yonkers, N.Y., will get much-needed repairs from the AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program.

Hundreds of homes were damaged during Hurricane Sandy, like these in Fairfield.

Hundreds of homes were damaged during Hurricane Sandy, like these in Fairfield.

Photo Credit: Rich Pittera, File

The work begins Saturday, May 4, when volunteer teams replace shingles on wind-damaged roofs and remove water-logged sheetrock from homes, Stamford-based AmeriCares said in a statement.

HomeFront Inc., an organization that mobilizes volunteers on the first Saturday in May to fix up homes for seniors, people with disabilities and low-income families, received a grant from AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program to oversee the project, the statement said. All of the repairs are expected to be completed by August.

“Six months after Sandy families are still living in unsafe homes with dangerous mold and leaky roofs,” said AmeriCares President and CEO Curt Welling. “By mobilizing local volunteers we estimate we can make $300,000 in improvements for our neighbors in need, including many single parents and senior citizens on fixed incomes.”

Most of the families who will benefit from the work have health issues and are not physically able to make the repairs, the statement said. Only repairs not covered by insurance are eligible. Volunteers from local businesses, community organizations and churches will work on about half of the homes; professional contractors will be hired to handle more complicated repairs.

AmeriCares has been helping survivors of natural disasters, political conflict and poverty around the world for more than 30 years. Its Hurricane Sandy Relief Program focuses on restoring access to medical care and mental health services and helping storm-damaged communities prepare for future disasters. Six months after the storm, the nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization has provided $4.5 million in aid benefiting nearly 400,000 storm victims in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

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