On Saturday we had three wonderful, hardworking groups who volunteered to paint a low-income homeowner’s home. Our A Brush With Kindness groups were UCR’s Business Fraternity: Delta Sigma Pi, UCR Habitat Chapter and students and staff from Loma Linda University. The volunteer groups as well as Habitat for Humanity Riverside were about to bless homeowners Susanna and Kathy. Their homes are both single wide mobile homes in Jurupa Valley, so it was a breeze to paint for all the volunteers that morning. Since DSP brought 28 volunteers, there were plenty of painters on hand. Members from the UCR Habitat Chapter started off on the ladders painting the trim of the home since many of them have painted with us before. DSP members were assigned a side of the house to start on, getting the cream base color on all sides of the home. For some members, it was their first time painting, so we had mini painting lessons showing them the ropes. After a couple of hectic minutes trying to get everyone paint, brushes, rollers, and tape up metal parts of the home, the group quickly got the groove of things and were painting like pros in no time. The designated “paint pourers” for the day were Ryan and Orlando. They were making sure everyone had a hefty amount of paint to work with at all times.

The Loma Linda team started out strong and continued this way until the home was painted. Kathy’s home was painted by Loma Linda and a few members of UCR Habitat Chapter. Most of the volunteers have painted before and few have volunteered with Habitat Riverside in the past on ABWK projects. These volunteers definitely knew what they were doing. Kathy is very ill; however, her sister Judy and longtime friend, Air Force veteran and retired JROTC instructor Sgt. Joe care for Kathy and certainly cared for us as well on this paint day.

At Susanna’s home, the sun started to come out on one side of the house, so we had to rearrange some volunteers in order to finish up the sunny side before the paint dried. When the day was over, Susanna’s home was beautifully transformed. Before her house had dark paint on the walls, with a white trim color, and now she has a light cream colored base for her walls with a darker brown trim. It was a good change.

Kathy’s home had large stains and faded paint throughout the exterior of her home. The Loma Linda team, led by Darcy, consisted of students and staff from Loma Linda University. Some are nursing students and others work in the medical field. Justin, a Loma Linda volunteer, said that they collaborate with other organizations that are striving for healthier neighborhoods in the Inland Empire. They love to volunteer and bless residents in their communities.

Judy and Sgt. Joe bought sandwiches and refreshments for the volunteers and after both houses were finished, the volunteers working on Kathy’s home brought the food and snacks over to the volunteers who finished painting Susanna’s home. All of the volunteer groups knew that they all had one great purpose that morning, to bless Kathy and Susanna.

Thanks to UCR Habitat Chapter, the Loma Linda team and UCR’s Delta Sigma Pi for accomplishing painting two homes in record time.

Thanks to all of you for such a fast and efficient volunteer day and it was great working with you all!