Volunteers bring seniors April cheer

Saturday, April 22, 2000 | 9:19 a.m.

The wind coming through the space below Elia Mae Crudup's back door made her living room unbearably cold in the winter.

The broken door on her 25-year-old stove kept her from cooking and the floor in her bathroom had worn to the ground. But her greatest concerns were the spots in her roof that were wearing thin.

After a lifetime of cleaning houses and motels, the 82-year-old didn't have the strength or money to make the needed repairs.

Then came a group of volunteers from Nellis Air Force Base. They painted her kitchen, built two kitchen cabinets, enlarged existing cabinets and replaced her 25-year-old stove. They replaced the worn green carpet in her bedroom, painted the outside of her house and built a storage shed behind it. A roofer patched spots in her roof.

"I sure appreciated it," said Crudup, who was shocked to see the amount of energy the group put into renovating her small North Las Vegas home. "That was something I thought nobody would do for me.

"I'm glad to have a roof that's not leaking. That means a lot to me at my age."

They even washed her windows.

The group from Nellis, known as 896 MUNS Unit, was a cluster of volunteers taking part in 1999'sChristmas in April Greater Las Vegas.

Christmas in April is a volunteer organization that fixes homes for low-income and elderly people. Since its formation in 1993, it has helped more than 133 homeowners make repairs and refurbished six nonprofit youth centers.

Next Saturday, 34 teams -- 2,500 volunteers -- will spend the day completing repairs on 29 homes and three nonprofit centers -- Safe House, West Side Pride and Variety Day Home.

"It's really hard to comprehend how badly our neighbors are living, especially the elderly," Tonya Brum, executive director of the organization, said. "It's not uncommon for the plumbing to have completely rotted away. Some of them are doing dishes in the tub.

"Roofs cave in. Seniors are living with ripped up carpet and floor tile. They've lived like this for years not knowing there is help."

The organization receives up to 150 applications each year, Brum said. The elderly are referred to them through the county and other agencies, such as Meals On Wheels and Help of Southern Nevada. Crudup heard about the program from a cousin in law.

To qualify for the assistance, applicants must own and live in the home to be repaired. They must be considered low-income residents, which is pretty common, Brum said. "Some of the seniors are living on as low as $500 a month. It's sad what they do without."

Every spring the nonprofit group sends teams out to homes.

Teams are made up from local businesses, church groups and Boy Scouts. This year groups from Nellis Air Force Base, Women in Networking, Nevada Power, Lowe's and Home Depot are participating.

In January the teams select their homes based on level of expertise and desire.

Major plumbing problems, damaged roofs, ripped carpets or electrical hazards are considered heavier projects. Cleaning debris such as tree limbs, cars and junk are considered lighter projects. Each house receives a new smoke alarm.

Groups have been working throughout April to ensure the houses will be completed on April 29, which is national Christmas in April's Rebuild America Day. "Some of the homes need a tremendous amount of work," Brum said.

Some of the groups adopted their homes in January.

Last year it took the Nellis crew about two weeks to complete the projects at Crudup's house, Crudup said.

Crudup had been living in the nearly 60-year-old house since 1973. Retired for 10 years, she lives with and takes care of her 63-year-old daughter who suffers from complications of diabetes.

The organization is funded through sponsorships from large and small corporations, churches and organizations, the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson, and Clark County.

Volunteers network among themselves and find supplies, including new carpet, tile and fixtures. Appliances are either donated are given with a discount rate.

Extra funding this year helped create a year-round emergency repair service.

"This summer we'll be prepared to do repairs on air conditioners in free-standing houses," Brum said.