Contact:
Tony Bahou
United Way of the Capital Area
VP Community Relations & Marketing
601-965-1348
tony@myunitedway.com

Canton, MS- Redmon Emery is 52 years old. He has lived in the same house off of Lee Street in Canton for 30 of those years.
It's a simple dwelling, one story, four rooms, if you include the bathroom.

Emery has aged gracefully during that time, the same can not be said of his home. Water leaks through the roof in the ceiling. The floor is buckling in the kitchen. And let's not even mention his bathroom, which is unusable and breaking away from the rest of the house.

Spring means a rebirth in nature. Thanks to Madison Countians Allied Against Poverty (MADCAAP) and college students from the University of Wisconsin, Redmon's house is being reborn this year. MADCAAP and the United Way of the Capital Area have been community partners for the past decade. In that time they have provided dozens of new houses for families as well as restored hundreds of homes for other Madison County residents. In 2006 MADCAAP built one new structure and rehabbed over 70 houses in Madison County.

Redmon's house was in such need of repair that Harold Waldrop MADCAAP's construction manager moved Redmon to the front of the needs list line. "I gave him top priority because it was a pretty heavy job and I knew these students were coming down from the University of Wisconsin", said Waldrop. "It was a perfect fit."

Instead of heading to Panama City, South Padre Island or Cancun Mexico, eleven Badger students piled in three cars and drove 16 hours from Madison Wisconsin to Madison County Mississippi. "It's our spring break and it was good chance to get away and realize what's more important," said Amanda Kling Wisconsin Class of 2008. They traded in their sunglasses for saws and lotion for lumber. "It's much more rewarding than going down to Mexico and laying out on the beach," Karen Bednar, Wisconsin class of 2010 said.

Not all the volunteers had to drive the 800-plus miles to the job site. Greg Miller has been restoring houses for MADCAAP for several years. He beliefs that the program serves a great need in our community. "Because it doesn't take much too look around and see that there are a lot of people living in sub-standard housing,"Miller said. "There are a lot of orgazinations that build from the ground up, but there are only some many new houses you can build. It is a very practical way to help people and to express my faith through the love of God through action."

So with great weather and a strong work ethic the 16 or so volunteers were able to do their own "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"all in just four days.

And as for Redmon, he was nearly speechless. "It means a lot to have the guys come down and fix my house," said Redmon. "I'm truly grateful." His pots are now for cooking and he doesn't have to leave his house to use the bathroom. And that's WHAT MATTERS.

If you would like to donate your time, expertise or money contact us at tony@myunitedway.com to learn more about the United Way of the Capital Area or any of our community partners. To print this story click here for the PDF.

to see more pictures click here