Tuesday, October 15, 2024
AZLE — A biannual tradition, the Good Neighbors Blitz once again touched the lives of dozens of Azle area residents by improving homes and spaces for community members in need. Servolution Network, the City of Azle, Community Waste Disposal, Lake Worth Independent School District and other volunteers from a plethora of backgrounds joined together Oct. 11 and 12 to complete 26 different projects, a new record for the program. Along with materially enriching the lives of locals, many volunteers found themselves establishing connections and making new friends.
Adult & Teen Challenge
Adult and Teen Challenge, at 1099 Flat Rock Road, offers a space for troubled youth and adults who suffer from addiction, depression or just need help to get their life on track. There are currently 60 to 70 people enrolled at the Azle location.
Good Neighbors volunteers built the rehab a new kitchen space and worked on chapel improvements. With high capacity and cramped office spaces, the site’s administrators said they were glad to provide a better kitchen for the program and free up space that could potentially be used for other purposes.
Johnathan Villegas, a 19-year-old member of the program, expressed gratitude for the new kitchen, which he believes will benefit everyone.
“I feel like Servolution is doing us a blessing, and I feel like God answered our prayers to get a new kitchen,” Villegas said. “I'm just happy and it just brings a lot of peace in here, knowing that we have people to come and bless us with new stuff and just new furniture in general.”
the Hesters
The Hesters have lived in the same house in Azle for at least 40 years. Wanda Hester’s father lived in the house before her and now she lives there with her son, Randy Hester.
The 81-year-old disabled widow needed to have her roof and fascia repaired, trees trimmed and the house’s underpinning replaced. Good Neighbors volunteers also added a new ramp leading up to the porch. The Hesters were grateful for the help and repairs they would not have been able to do on their own.
Chrystal Sanchez, a Good Neighbors volunteer, has coincidentally known Randy Hester for about four years.
“It was just a huge blessing to just be here today and help them, and be able to help her, and meet (Wanda Hester) and sit with her today and hopefully tomorrow,” Sanchez said. “This isn't just about helping them with this one big thing, but just helping them in general, being like Jesus and showing them and others there's community out there. There’s help out there, because that's what we're called to do. We're here to help one another and they're not alone.”
The Curtises
Margie Curtis is an 82-year-old widow who lives with her son Tommy Curtis, who is a veteran and amputee. The house’s backyard was overgrown, and Margie Curtis said she hadn’t stepped out much farther than the porch in years. Good Neighbors volunteers cleaned up with the back yard, painted the house, repaired the roof and worked on plumbing issues.
Margie Curtis’s aunt and uncle originally lived in the same house but in Saginaw. The couple eventually had it physically moved to Azle. Margie Curtis has lived there since 1987.
“Especially when you get to get to be my age, you don't expect anybody to come help you,” Margie Curtis said. “So, it's great.”
She said she is most looking forward to being able to go out to the back porch and watch the deer again. Her son agreed the Fall Blitz was a blessing he had never expected and that it would be a big improvement for both of them.
Leslie Idell, head of the house’s liaison team, said the purpose of their efforts was to pay it forward and treat others how she would hope to be treated when she is older or if she had fallen on hard times.
A Good Neighbors volunteer, Lindy Gerow, connected with Tommy Curtis over his prosthetic leg, she herself also having one, and motivated him to get involved in different activities and programs that she enjoys.
