The ESVA Housing Mission, a new nonprofit on the Eastern Shore of Virginia that provides critical home repair for those in need, completed its first project Sept. 21 in Bloxom, building a wheelchair ramp for a family with a disabled member in the household.
The new agency was kickstarted with a $10,000 donation from Perdue Foods announced at a recent presentation at Eastern Shore Community College.
ESVA Housing is a Christian mission organization dedicated to leveraging volunteers to help their neighbors in need.
“This is an important day on the Eastern Shore of Virginia,” said Bel Holden, of Perdue, in opening remarks at the gathering of community leaders. “Our aim is not to replace any agency but to add to the work already being done. We are excited about the possibilities in supporting those who live in poverty.”
The ESVA Housing Mission is based on a similar group founded in Maryland in 2009, the Chesapeake Housing Mission, which serves the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and has completed more than 1,000 critical home repair projects in Somerset, Dorchester, and Wicomico counties, including repairing roofs, floors, and steps, and building wheelchair ramps.
Don Taylor founded Chesapeake Housing Mission after taking several trips to the Appalachian region to work on homes in impoverished regions.
A Salisbury resident, Taylor realized he could do the same work near his home due to the high levels of poverty on the Eastern Shore.
Now, Taylor, a 1966 graduate of Atlantic High School, is the board advisor for the ESVA Housing Mission, which aims to do the same work in Accomack and Northampton counties.
Statistics show that of the 14,152 households in Accomack County, 2,051 are at or below the poverty line.
Of the 5,292 households in Northampton County, 853 are at or below the poverty line.
Taylor adds that no price can be placed on the feeling of bringing people together to help their neighbors in need.
“I promise you, the more you do, the more you want to do,” said Taylor.
Jennifer Shelton Barnes, a board member who works with Riverside Hospice, says she has been in many homes that badly need the repairs now being offered by ESVA Housing.
“The truth is any of us are only one fall away from a different life,” Barnes said. “Making homes safer for those who can’t afford to make repairs brings hope and dignity to our low-income homeowners.”
ESVA Housing is looking for a pool of volunteers to help with the construction of ramps or repairs on homes, Taylor said.
Supervision is provided at the building site to help those with no construction experience. Volunteers can come from civic clubs, churches, schools, as individuals, or as part of any other group willing to donate a few hours to help their neighbors.
Taylor added that the typical project takes approximately six hours and 12 to 15 volunteers are needed.
No group is obligated to work on all the projects. They can take on whatever their schedule allows.
“The goal is to attract a large enough pool of volunteers so that the projects can be completed without infringing on the volunteers’ private time,” said Taylor.
Three projects are already in the works.
Contributions can be mailed to John Fiege, treasurer, ESVA Housing, P.O. Box 277, Onancock, VA 23417.
Fiege hopes the organization will raise over $50,000 in 2024, with $20,000 already in the bank or put to work.
If interested in participating, contact Donna Smith at [email protected] or call 757-442-9652 or Jennifer Shelton Barnes at [email protected] or leave a message at 757-709-5468.
