KARE 11 helps with 1000th ABWK home

Volunteers from the KARE 11 morning news team, Valspar and the City of St. Paul joined together July 30, 2009 to work on the 1,000th home completed by A Brush with Kindness (ABWK), a program started by Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (TCHFH).

KARE 11 news personalities Pete Busch, Kim Insley, Tim McNiff, Jeff Olsen and Rena Sarigianopoulos came straight from the news room to the work site to roll up their sleeves and volunteer.

"Now more than ever, this program is so important. The hope is that if we fix homes like this, we can help stabilize neighborhoods during these tough economic times. On behalf of KARE 11, it's our pleasure to be involved," said Jeff Olsen.

Sandy Thompson was thrilled to learn that her house was selected to be the 1,000th ABWK home. Thompson was widowed two years ago, and laid off from her job last summer.

“I feel so blessed to receive this help. Today has been truly incredible. The work done here by the volunteers is not only healing my house, it's healing my heart,” said Thompson.

A homecoming of sorts, the 1,000th home is located in east St. Paul, where ABWK served its first homeowners. The home is sponsored in part by Valspar, and the City of St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA), who also had volunteers at the anniversary event.

Story and video contributed by Sharon Rolenc. Photos by Ben Glumack.