Carpenter’s Helpers meet neighbors’ needs

Posted: 5/12/06

Carpenter’s Helpers meet neighbors’ needs

By George Henson

Staff Writer

WIMBERLEY—Gary Henderson had no idea what he was starting. He was simply a handy guy who wanted to help his friends at First Baptist Church in Wimberley by making small home repairs for them.

Then he received a call from his daughter, who wanted him to oversee construction of her home in another state.

While Henderson was no longer on the scene, people in Wimberley still had needs, and other men in the congregation began to take up the chores that had once been his.

Henderson eventually returned, and over the course of several years, the volunteer group—now known as The Carpenter’s Helpers ministry—has grown in number.

Volunteers—including several women—fix leaky faucets, do minor electrical and auto repairs, clean garages and yards, repair fences and gates, change furnace filters and tires, and run a variety of errands.

Word has spread around Wimberley. Now the ministry extends beyond First Baptist, and the group also helps many people who attend other churches or don’t attend any church.

When people who receive help can afford to pay for the materials, they do, Burkland said. People who can’t afford to pay still receive the help they need through a fund set up for the ministry and financed by donations.

Recently, the fund helped pay for a washing machine and air conditioner for a single mother who couldn’t afford them.

“We don’t turn anything down,” said Jack Burkland, who has been a part of the ministry for about three years. “Some of the jobs give us a little aggravation, but we get them done.”

Early this year, David Ditraglia—who is confined to a wheelchair— found himself alone and unable to prepare this own meals after his wife left him. His kitchen was not built for someone in those circumstances—an island made navigating difficult, the cabinets and countertops were too high to reach easily, and it was difficult to get close enough to the stove to cook.

The Carpenter’s Helpers slimmed the island, lowered the countertops and cabinets, and adjusted the stovetop so Ditraglia’s chair would fit under it. That also meant lowering the plumbing and electrical outlets in the kitchen. In addition, the men made repairs to the roof.

Ditraglia expressed gratitude for all they have done.

“One, I’m not a member of the congregation. It impressed me to see good Christian men act like good Christian men. They saw a need, and they are helping me out. Without them, none of this would have been achievable,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to see people who can walk the walk. This has given me so much faith in people and Christianity. I’ve been blessed.”

The men and women involved in the ministry feel just as blessed.

“I love the ministry, but it’s also a lot of fun,” said John Pratt, a retiree from the state attorney general’s office, who also works with a Texas Baptist Men Builders team. “After using my mind for 30 years, I like doing anything with my hands.”

The Carpenter’s Helpers are approaching a particularly busy part of the year—yard-care season. Many of the people they help are senior adults who live on lots of five acres or more. The Carpenter’s Helpers get a crew of five or six on riding mowers and tractors and make it as short a work as possible.

The men are careful, however, not to shortchange the work done by women in their group. While the men were working on Ditraglia’s home, a group of women were at another home painting.

Henderson still is active in the ministry, but now he, too, has plenty of helpers.