Operation Vivian
This post is part of our Storytellers Series. The series shares stories of members organizations and how they use stories to grow their mission.
Emmanuel's Hammer (Greenville, SC) doesn’t just use stories to capture the joy of post-project impact. Their team shares stories of upcoming homeowners to be served in order to recruit volunteers and fundraise for repairs. The clever branding around “Operation Homeowner” makes the upcoming projects solution-orientated and shows how each project is part of something larger.
They start with a focus on the person who volunteers will be serving. They are able to start the relationship between volunteers and homeowners before anyone even arrives on a build site. Consistent and clear calls to action are included to volunteer or to donate with dates of the upcoming projects and the budget for the home.
After the homeowner is introduced, Emmanuel’s Hammer shares updates on the repairs and their impact. By following a consistent formula for stories, they are able to create a compelling case for support.
Meet Ms. Vivian Westfield. She lives in Greenville, SC in a small two-bedroom, one bath home with three of her grandchildren existing on her very limited income. We have already provided her with a queen mattress and a couch. She still needs a queen box springs, coffee table, end tables, tall dresser and an entertainment center.
They are all currently attempting to sleep in one bed! They are heating with electric space heaters which is dangerous. All the windows are in terrible shape and need replacing. Her tub/shower doesn’t work well. There are some electrical issues in the home as well.
We will be installing a mini-split system to heat and cool the home. We will replace all of the windows and install four ceiling fans to enhance energy efficiency. We will also make repairs to the bathroom, repair her kitchen cabinets and address the electrical issues in the home.
The budget for this project is $4,200.00. Please help us help Ms. Westfield get into her own bed and sleep soundly at night knowing that her home is a safe, sanitary and secure environment for her grandkids by clicking the MAKE A DONATION button. Thank you for your contribution.
PROJECT DETAILS & IMPACT
We literally blitzed Ms. Westfield’s home last week with great help primarily from Buncombe Street UMC and Etowah UMC. In two days we installed a mini-split system to heat and cool the home. We replaced all of the windows and installed three ceiling fans to enhance energy efficiency. We also repaired her kitchen cabinets and addressed the electrical issues.
Tomorrow we will make repairs in the bathroom, including repairing her plumbing problems and replace an exterior door to complete the project.
We were able to secure a chest of drawers, coffee table and entertainment center. She still needs a twin mattress and box springs and end tables. Please let us know if you have those items to donate.
Ms. Westfield is so excited that she no longer has to sleep with the grandkids and that her grandson will have his own room separate from the two granddaughters. She is especially thrilled that she will no longer have $300.00 per month power bills.
“I thank God that He sent you folks to help me and my grandkids!” -Ms. Westfield
KC Carter is the founder and has served as the Executive Director of Emmanuel’s Hammer since its inception in 2004. Mr. Carter has successfully led Emmanuel’s Hammer through its focus in the Bahamas, to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi after hurricane Katrina in 2005 and now to assisting homeowners in need in the Southeast.
