Students from the UCR Health Professionals Club came to the aid of Mike, a retired senior homeowner who lives in Riverside’s Mission Village Mobile Home Park. Mike had a previous work related neck injury and needs assistance to get around these days. The UCR HPAC students were excited to help him by painting his home. Mike’s home had trim and exposed sides that were fading and discolored. Park management requested that he paint the home. However, since he lives on a fixed income he couldn’t afford to do so and that’s when UCR students and Habitat for Humanity Riverside came to his aid.
The winds from the day before had subsided making it a good morning to paint. This is the 2nd home that this group helped with this year. Some of the students were familiar with the “A Brush With Kindness” (ABWK) painting plan and procedures. So while we waited for the rest of the group to show they began setting up, laying out tarps, moving ladders to all 4 sides of the home, and getting all the supplies in order. Once all of the students were given a quick painting 101 and safety training, a devotion was said and the paint job began.
The team broke off into groups to take care of their assigned side of the home. The first parts to be finished were the walls, then they moved to the trim. The home had 2 awnings that were not removed but just lowered to allow all areas of the walls to be painted easily. The students got all of the home painted with the exception of an area above one of the awnings that’s directly above the cement side steps. This area will have to be taken care of by Habitat volunteers with a different type of ladder.
The mobile home park was having a community yard sale in the park entrance during Mike’s painting project. When Mike came back from the yard sale, he was truly impressed with the new look of his home. He thanked all the students and gladly took a group picture.
Thanks again, UCR Health Professionals, you all did a great job painting Mike’s home and had fun all at the same time!