The home of Beatrice James was open on the Home Works Tour.

 High school students, pastors, and USC Team Gamecock athletes have in common will join a team of 1,200 community workers to share in a labor of love to repair homes for elderly and disadvantaged people on April 23.   

Hank Chardos, director of Home Works of SC, Inc, told visitors at the April 1, 2005 Tour of Columbia that the combination of faith and skills provides a powerful impact to help others. The team of volunteers works under the direction of the words of Mother Teresa, “Works of love are always works of peace. Whenever you share with others, you’ll notice the peace that comes to you and to them.”

Beatrice James welcomes the tour group into her home. On the trolley ride to the houses, Chardos explained that the tour was a preliminary view of two of the 35 houses that will appear in Home Works’ Christmas in Columbia tour this December. Home Works is also sponsoring a Christmas tour of home repair with houses in Myrtle Beach and Augusta, Ga.

In this sneak preview, visitors met with couple, Steve and Becky Dix, experienced volunteers in charge of the re–roofing of Inez Wise’s house. The USC Team Gamecock athletes have offered their services for the manual labor and other roofing projects to be performed on April 23. 

Hank Chardos and Ridge View High School student volunteer Colleen Paxton Other repair features to be included on this one day event are restructuring porch supports and wall painting project.

Mungo, a local home developer, has adopted five of the houses to help Home Works with the difficult tasks of tree damage removal.

The tour group met Wise, who will stay in the house while Home Works makes the repair. Chardos explained that it is part of the Home Works process.  Community volunteers will make the 95–year–old lady as comfortable as possible as she watches her dream repairs come true. “We are truly blessed,” Wise’s daughters said.

Beatrice James, the second home–owner on the tour, welcomed the group into her home as Chardos showed the plans for flooring repairs, painting, and new doors. “This will be a dream come true,” she said. 

“We are about turning compassion to action,” said Chardos. “Our team of teens and adults will begin and end April 23 with a prayer.”

For more information on Home Works, call Hank Chardos at (803) 781-4536 or visit www.homeworks-sc.org.