"I can't believe we like actually did this all by ourselves!" a Jewish Day School (JDS) student exclaimed while looking at the completed playground equipment he and approximately 24 other students installed in the backyard of the Howard family on September 25th. The Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School participated with Yachad for their Lerner Day of Service this year. In honor of the Lerner Family, the school organizes the entire 10th grade class and sends them off to various service projects for one day. Yachad recieved 25 of the most hardworking students and teachers the school had to offer to completely renovate the outside property of the Howard family's home in Southeast Washington.
Yachad has been working closely with the Howard family for the last year, having sent several different professional contractors to the site and three other volunteer groups before JDS. The two bedroom home houses 6 family members including two children under 11 years-old. Over the past year, Yachad has coordinated the complete reconstruction of the kitchen, repair of walls and doors, repainting of the interior, rebuilding of the back porch, repair of the back fence, regrading of the property to avoid flooding, insulation of the basement, and more. The family has seen their home change before their eyes and this has motivated them to initiate more repairs necessary independently of Yachad. "You all have been a blessing. Because of you, we want to do even more to the home. Before the job just seemed too big to conquer that we couldn't even start. Now, we're almost done!" said one of the residents who participated in the workday with the students.
The JDS students worked from 10 until 3 side by side with their teachers and the honorary guest of the day, Marcia Weinberg, one of the founding members of Yachad. Yachad wanted to take the opportunity to thank Marcia for all that she does for Yachad, so invited her to spend the day assisting the students and the homeowners in the repairs on the home, all in her honor. "It was the best birthday I ever had!" exclaimed Marcia.
 
When the students left, they had planted a brand new garden in the front of the home, repaired the front and back fences, patched the side of the house, and built a playground in the backyard for the two children that live in the house and all of their friends in the community. A feeling of immense accomplishment was in the air when they loaded in to the bus to go back to their school. This will likely not be the last Yachad sees of them as many were enthusiastic about the Ramp it Up program for the summer!
THE FAMILY WAITING IN ANTICIPATION |
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