TO APPLYThose wanting more information about the World Changers program or to apply for it should visit www.chattanooga.gov/neighborhood_services or call 425-3700.BY THE NUMBERS 37: Houses repaired in 2010287: Houses repaired since 2002200+: Volunteers in Chattanooga97: Cities World Changers will visit this summerSource: World Changers, Chattanooga
Deborah Wilson got choked up when describing how much the paint job to her North Chamberlain Avenue home meant to her.
"It really fills me up with grace and mercy," she said Wednesday as tears began to flow from her eyes. "I'm so happy."
Ms. Wilson's house is one of 37 in Chattanooga that, by Friday, will have received some much-needed and greatly appreciated touch-ups from World Changers, a national ministry organization.
The group has teamed up with the Chattanooga Department of Neighborhood Services and Community Development to lend a hand to community members.
This is the eighth year World Changers has come to Chattanooga and, by the end of the summer, volunteers will have finished working on their 287th home in the Scenic City, said Vanessa Jackson, a neighborhood program specialist for the city.
"It's been well received," she said. "These are homeowners who are in great need of having these repairs done."
John Lord, a member of World Changers who helped paint Ms. Wilson's house Wednesday, said that when he is volunteering on a project, he enjoys the feeling of "doing something good for the community."
"I get a big sense of pride and accomplishment and joy out of it, seeing us change these people's lives," he said.
Since July 13, more than 200 World Changers from all over the nation have been working on sites that were chosen by Chattanoogans to receive repairs. Up to 200 people each year apply for assistance, Ms. Jackson said.
World Changers volunteers are scheduled to come back next year, she added.
"The economy does affect programs, but the good thing is we've still been able to partner with World Changers," Ms. Jackson said.
Those wanting to apply for home repairs for next summer can begin applying in December, she said.
"I'm very appreciative, because I know of somebody who wasn't able to get into the program," Ms. Wilson said. "I'm very happy and very pleased."
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