Good Neighbor Action Team is preparing for this year's blitz in June

Let the home improvements begin again.

Home repairs are often on the minds of many homeowners this time of year, and the Good Neighbor Action Team is once again preparing to recruit volunteers for the Good Neighbor Blitz, a six-day home improvement plan June 10-15. The group's goal is to help several eligible low-income residents complete home repairs or improvements they are unable to perform or afford.

"The community supports this and sees the benefit that it has," GNAT co-convenor Treva Williams said.

Last year, the group recruited about 250 volunteers who tackled projects on 40 area houses. This year, organizers are changing their plan somewhat to hopefully be more efficient and effective.

"We want to use our resources a little better this year," Williams said. "We want to work in one neighborhood because the committee wants to visualize and see the difference in the homes, and there will be a bigger impact on the homes we do. We were more spread out last year ... we were all over the place."

Williams said the goal is to work on much fewer houses this year, but organizers have not established a number of houses or projects this year until they are able to determine how much funds they will have to work with.

"We don't want to set a number until we can see financially what we're able to do," she said. "We had 250 volunteers last year and we're hoping to get that number again."

Homeowners who are eligible to have work done include low-income residents, disabled residents, and elderly residents who live on fixed incomes. Homes and projects are chosen based on several factors. GNAT follows guidelines set by Kansas Healthwave when determining eligibility for home improvement work.

"We're following the same income guidelines as last year," Williams said. "The people who benefit own their homes but don't have the finances to fix them. We don't want to take work away from contractors."

Low-income families must be able to show proof of income, their Healthwave card or food stamp card, and GNAT will then verify the information. Rental properties are not eligible to receive repairs or improvements under GNAT's program, Williams said.

The Good Neighbor Blitz will involve volunteers being divided into several teams that will complete such tasks as interior and exterior painting, porch repair, landscaping, cleaning, flooring, dry walling, insulation installing, debris and trash haul-off, basic plumbing and basic carpentry. No roofing or electrical work will be performed. Qualified professionals will be available to complete more complex, skilled projects.

The GNAT is currently beginning to recruit volunteers and accept applications for projects. The group obtains all funds needed for supplies and materials to complete the projects through fundraisers in the community.

"We do fundraisers and individuals and businesses donate," Williams said. "We raised $32,000 last year and we have $8,000 left over from last year to help us get started this year, which is good ... anyone can contribute financially."

For more information or to obtain an application, contact Williams at (620) 704-1062. Applications can also be picked up at The Beacon, 525 E. Sixth St., The Fort Scott Tribune, 12 E. Wall St., KMDO-AM/KOMB-FM, 2 N. National Ave., Gene's Heartland Foods, 911 E. Sixth St., Woods Supermarket, 2322 S. Main St., and the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford St.

Williams said applications must be completed and taken to The Beacon or the First Presbyterian Church by no later than April 15.