PRESS

For immediate release
Phone: 914-741-0740
Email: lkelly@a-homehousing.org

PAINT A-HOME IN A DAY

Pleasantville, NY -- Volunteers from the Presbyterian Church of Pleasantville took on a big job when they set out to paint the exterior of A-HOME’s Gannett House in Mt. Kisco on a Saturday. 

Coordinated by group leader Gail Zarick the mostly teenage crew got down to work at 9AM and were done before 5PM. The teens are honing their skills before they leave to participate in the Appalachian Service Project. It's the third project they've completed for A-HOME, the first under Property Manager Gerry Granelli who worked closely with the group planning and painting.

Ms. Zarick appreciates the projects with A-HOME both as a way to teach skills to the youth involved, bring the team together and, importantly, “It allows the youth to realize there is need here in Westchester County.” 

Founded in 1985 A-HOME is northern Westchester’s affordable housing organization. With 17 houses on 13 properties located in Bedford Hills, Chappaqua, Croton Falls, Katonah, Mt. Kisco, Pound Ridge, South Salem, and Thornwood the non-profit organization provides permanent rental housing to older adults, individuals living with disabilities and single parent families.

In 2008 A-HOME built the first affordable housing for seniors in Pound Ridge and in 2010 purchased a seven unit building in Katonah. The building in Katonah is A-HOME’s first property that is considered workforce housing with apartments available to people with an income ceiling of $44,220 for an individual and a two person maximum of $50,520.

In previous years the Appalachian Service Project worked with A-HOME to prepare a house in Chappaqua for rehabilitation by gutting the interior of the house and painted and did repair work at a home for seniors in Thornwood. The combination of helping locally in preparation to help in Appalachia is a win-win situation for Ms. Zarick who stated “We’ll be spending nine days in southern West Virginia. We want the youth to be prepared both on a technical level but also to be sensitive to the need of others. Doing a project at A-HOME allows us to both serve the local community and to develop needed skills.”

Carpenter Steve Miller worked closely with Gerry Granelli to get the project off the ground. Both Mr. Miller and Mr. Granelli were on hand to supervise the painting and give primers on house painting. 

SOUTH SALEM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MEMORIAL DAY RACE

HELP FOR A-HOME

Pleasantville, NY – The Memorial Day Races at the South Salem Presbyterian Church have become a tradition that attracts athletes from near and far. This year the church added something new when they designated a portion of the runners’ entrance fee to be donated to A-HOME.

Founded with the support of a coalition of houses of worship and civic groups A-HOME today remains closely attuned to the community through its 26 member Coalition. The South Salem Presbyterian Church joined the Coalition in 1992 to support A-HOME’s work in building safe affordable rental housing for seniors, individuals living with disabilities and single parent families in northern Westchester. A-HOME’s most recent purchase,  a seven unit building in Katonah, is their first project to be considered workforce housing with apartments available to people with an income ceiling of $44,220 for an individual and a two person maximum of $50,520.

Deb Buscema, race committee co-chair, said this was a record year with more race competitors than in previous years. Runners compete in 10k and 5k runs with some runners competing in both and than running with their children in the one-mile fun run. Representatives from A-HOME spent the morning at the races and later set up a table at the fair to introduce           A-HOME to newcomers and renew friendships with long-time supporters.

A donation of $1500 was presented to Lonna Kelly A-HOME’s Director of Community Relations by Pastor Ned Beckes at Sunday services. 

Left to right: Deb Buscema, co-chair race committee, Pastor Ned Beckes, Lonna Kelly,  A-HOME’s Director of Community Relations, Karen Wagner, mission elder and delegate to A-HOME and Rebekah Habinowski, co-chair race committee