First 'Brunswick Cares' to aid replacement home projects June 19

Jayne Mathews is hoping enough volunteers care to help with assorted housing projects during the first “Brunswick Cares” next Thursday.

The June 19 event, a day of projects to aid residents of eight county-built replacement homes, is slated for the morning hours—8 a.m. to noon—at various home sites in Brunswick County.

Mathews, director of the Brunswick County Volunteer Center, said she is anticipating a turnout of between 60 and 80 volunteers, including assorted youth who will be under adult supervision at replacement homes that were built with grant money.

“There are nine houses the county has rebuilt through federal monies,” Mathews said, noting some of the homes were destroyed by storms in 2004-2005 while others “just fell apart.”

The homes are often occupied by elderly or disabled residents who are unable to do work on the homes themselves, she said.

The homes were rebuilt by Brian Smith of the Brunswick Housing Opportunities board, with eight of them finished and residents starting to move back in.

The day, which is part of Brunswick Workforce Housing Week, is described by Mathews as a grassroots effort involving volunteers adding final landscaping touches to the finished replacement homes.

“It’s what I call light landscaping,” she said, noting volunteer teams will be planting shrubs and flowers and spreading mulch.

Mathews said she has learned from the local N.C. Cooperative Extension office this is not the time of year to plant trees.

“Maybe we can go back in the fall,” she said.

A volunteer team will be at each house. Mathews said they’ll start early to avoid the heat.

Participants include Girls Inc. consisting of middle-school-aged teens.

Some of the groups involve local businesses that are giving their employees the morning to work on Brunswick Cares projects in coordination with the affordable housing week.

The day will conclude with volunteers gathering for an old-fashioned picnic and cookout lunch at Town Creek Park, which will serve as headquarters for the event.

Mathews said one goal of the event is to involve people, especially young people, who have not previously been active with the housing movement.

“Hopefully, next year we can expand it,” she said.

Volunteers are still being recruited.

To become one, call Mathews at 253-2574 or e-mail jmathews@brunsco.net.