Michael Perry, 15, of Chicora, uses a grinder to work on repointing masonry as a part of the Chicora Alliance Church Hometown Reach project in Oakland Township Monday. Cary Shaffer/ Butler Eagle

The coronavirus pandemic is no match for a Chicora church’s mission to repair and perform basic construction on houses that need a little love.

Brandy Waldroup, program coordinator for the Hometown Reach program at Chicora Alliance Church, said about 30 volunteers will perform repairs on two houses in northern Butler County where the owners are unable to do the work.

“We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus,” Waldroup said of the program.

Homeowner Sandy Morra discusses work with the Chicora Alliance Church Hometown Reach project lead, Carl Ellenberger, 52, in Oakland Township on Monday. Cary Shaffer/ Butler Eagle

She explained that the church participated for many years in the Resources for Education, Advocacy, Communication and Housing (REACH) program, where volunteers traveled to various states to help with construction projects on the homes of the less fortunate.

“When COVID hit, we couldn’t do it because we used schools to sleep in,” Waldroup said.

Emma Ellenberger, 18, of Chicora, repairs the wall below where a replacement window will be installed. Ellenberger has worked on three homes with Chicora Alliance Church Hometown Reach in Oakland Township. Cary Shaffer/ Butler Eagle

Unwilling to simply stop the ministry of helping others in need as the Bible teaches, Waldroup said, the REACH group from Chicora Alliance decided to institute its program on a local level.

Now known as Hometown Reach, volunteers have worked on improvement projects at eight homes in three years, Waldroup said.

“It’s nice going out of town, but now, when I drive past a house we worked on, I can say, ‘we helped that person,’” she said.

The group, which is comprised of both Chicora Alliance members and community volunteers, is working on a home on Love Road in Oakland Township and another in Bruin.

Homeowner Sandy Morra discusses work with the Chicora Alliance Church Hometown Reach project lead, Carl Ellenberger, 52, in Oakland Township Monday. Cary Shaffer/ Butler Eagle

The volunteers start at 7:30 a.m. by enjoying breakfast at the church and watching a reflection video based on the theme chosen for the projects, which is “Stand” this year.

They work through the morning and discuss the theme and have a devotional at their lunch break, in which the homeowner is welcomed to participate if they so choose.

Dinner is provided to the workers at the church in the evening, where worship music, another theme-based video and banter about the day’s tasks is included.

The Alliance Church Hometown Reach crew discusses devotions after lunch while working on a project in Oakland Township Monday. They sat on the back porch of the homeowner, Sandy Morra, third from right. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

“We work Monday through Thursday for one week,” Waldroup said.

The teams are replacing windows and faulty siding at the Oakland Township home, replacing rotting sections of the front porch and adding a back deck to the Bruin home, Waldroup said.

Chicora Alliance raises money for the repairs through fundraisers and donations throughout the year.

Chloe Fritch, 15, of Chicora, cuts material to repair a rotted window with the Chicora Alliance Church Hometown Reach in Oakland Township on Monday. Fritch has worked with Hometown Reach for three seasons and has helped repair eight homes. Cary Shaffer/ Butler Eagle

The volunteers are veterans of the pre-COVID REACH program, community members and even teenagers.

“We have a bunch of junior high kids this year,” Waldroup said. “One girl said ‘I love doing this.’”

Those with basic construction knowledge lead the teams as they work on the houses.

She said porch and bathroom jobs are the most challenging, but the volunteers always complete the projects with a glad heart.

“I think we all do it because we want to serve in the community for Jesus,” Waldroup said.