There were no sleigh bells to be heard, but there were some people behaving like Santa's little helpers at a recent volunteer project in Henderson.
City of Henderson Building and Fire Safety Department employees participated in the Christmas in April program on April 29.
The program, which focuses on free minor home repairs for seniors and persons with disabilities, was created by Rebuilding Together, a nationwide charitable organization founded in 1973 in Midland, Texas, and established locally in 1993.
Henderson staff painted, cleared the front and backyards and added some new cabinetry to the home of Henderson resident Roger Gabbey as part of the project. They also added handles and altered doors to make the home more wheelchair accessible.
Gabbey has a degenerative disc disease that has left him in a wheelchair and unable to do those types of improvements himself. He even started the projects, cleaning the areas he could reach from his wheelchair.
"I had all of the materials and everything," Gabbey said.
He's been in the house 10 years, but his disease slowly caused him to need crutches, then a walker, then a wheelchair.
"It kind of drives me mad to have all these people doing what I should be doing," Gabbey said.
But his body will not allow him and he said he was grateful to the workers and looking forward to the end result.
"It's going to be cool," Gabbey said.
About 20 employees helped in the effort, many of them working beforehand to put things like cabinets together for the home improvement project.
Rebuilding Together and USA Bank provided the $5,000 budget for the home overhaul.
Ken Ellis, Henderson building inspector, painted the ceilings at Gabbey's house. Ellis said his department used to search out similar projects at Christmas, but that had sort of become less common over the years. City staffers said they were thrilled to get involved this year when Emily Lewis, senior permit technician, started promoting the idea of Christmas in April.
"It's a good thing. A little hard work makes a big difference," Ellis said.
Ellis said it felt great to help someone who could not complete the projects on his own and it was a great chance to bond with fellow employees.
"Even though we work in the same department, we don't always see these people. We're out in the field a lot," Ellis said.
Lewis said the project was unrelated to the department's usual task. Any home improvement projects requiring inspections were contracted out by Gabbey and were completely separate from the Christmas in April program.
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