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Tears running down her cheeks, Ms. Jane said the crying was for "greatness that I can have a roof that doesn't leak."
The arrival of a team of students from North Carolina State University (NCSU) during spring break was nothing short of a miracle for the homeowner. The seven member team was joined by the Women Roofers and Bossman Billy Honeycutt to roof Ms. Jane's home in Forest City recently.
"My whole world has changed, that's what I told the people at work...This has warmed my heart."
Ms. Jane had experienced a badly leaking roof for months and couldn't do anything about the rain coming through her ceilings.
"Winter came and I couldn't afford to get it fixed and it just kept getting worse and worse," she said.
During the past few years, NCSU students have spent spring breaks enrolled in the Alternative Service Break (ASB) program as a learning experience as the students engaged in direct service to a community.
Rutherford Housing Partnership (RHP) has been the recipient of a NCSU team for the past few years. The team was housed again this year at First Baptist Church in Rutherfordton.
Among the newest member of the NCSU team was Grace McCoy, 19, of Raleigh and a freshman.
"This is the first time I've done this and I decided last semester I wanted to get out of Raleigh so I applied to ASB," Grace said.
Although a genuine fear of heights, Grace made her way up and down the ladder at Ms. Jane's house each day. On the last day of the work week Grace was spotted on the roof with a leaf blower walking back and forth all over the roof cleaning any remaining debris left from the project. She had conquered her fears.
"It is definitely a lot of work," she said. "I'll do this again," she said on the job site. She's already thinking about applying as a team leader for next spring's ASB.
All of the team members weren't acquainted with each other until the roofing project so new friendships were formed between the team.
Jordan Parillo was also a first time ASB student.
"It's been great. I didn't know exactly what to expect and this is completely out of my comfort zone for sure," Jordan said.
Like Grace she had never helped roof a house.
Zack Reynolds said he especially enjoyed the project because he learned a new trade and worked with his hands.
The week the students were in Rutherford County -- March 13-17 -- temperatures dipped to freezing or below on some mornings when the work was initially scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. But given the breezy conditions and cold temperatures, the group arrived at 10:30 a.m. and stayed until about 5 p.m. each day.
"I actually like the cold better because up on the roof we were not super hot," Jordan said one afternoon.
Students and the Women Roofers arrived to work each morning in double layers with toboggans or hats but before the day was over the outer coats were shed and laid in piles on the roof until it was time to go home.
Ms. Jane joined the workers each morning and afternoon unless she was at her part-time job at Ingles Market. Even on the days she had to be at work by 1 p.m., she bundled up for the morning work.
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She joined the Women Roofers' ground crew picking up shingles, paper and running the nail magnets across her yard. She wanted to do anything to try to help and show her appreciation for what the students were doing for her.
Ms. Jane opened her home to the volunteers and provided snacks and even fried chicken one day for the team. Crying more than once, Ms. Jane said she didn't know how she could ever repay them.
"I am going to write everyone a card. I got their addresses. I want the University to know how hard they worked," she said, wiping her face of tears.
Just as in the case of Ms. Jane, so many homeowners in Rutherford County can't afford the expense of replacing a roof or paying for other urgent repair needs at their homes.
Because of people such as the NCSU students and the Women Roofers, Ms. Jane has a safe and dry roof.
Mel Ailiff, executive director of RHP said on the Facebook page, "For years, these amazing students have been an integral part of the Rutherford Housing Partnership community, dedicating their time and energy to support families in need.
"Their selflessness and dedication to improving the community is an inspiring example of the power of collective action. As these students worked throughout the week, the impact of their efforts was clear as the homeowner beamed up at her new, non-leaky roof, whose heartfelt thanks and tears of joy were a testament to the profound difference that their work had made in her life.
"However, as the need in Rutherford County continues to grow, we need more volunteers. Currently, most of our volunteers join us from other communities across America, coming to Rutherford County to perform a week of service but we encourage local volunteers to support the community as well. No skills required, our construction team can provide the support and training you need," Ailiff said.
"Their commitment to giving back is truly inspiring, and we're grateful to have such dedicated partners in our mission to make a difference in our community," she said.
"RHP doesn't run out of work," Honeycutt said of the long waiting list of projects awaiting volunteers to help improve the lives of people in Rutherford County.
Call for more information, 828-248-3431 or visit: www.rutherfordhousingpartnership.com for information about volunteering.
