Hoquiam homes getting a free touch-up
HOQUIAM, Wash. -- Twenty-five homeowners here are going to get a free paint job as part of an effort here to beautify the city and help those who can't afford home maintenance.
If you've ever driven the corridor through Hoquiam on the way to the ocean beaches, you've probably seen the modest homes, a few with new paint, but most a little sad and disheveled.
"We want to make the corridor represent us," said Dave Murnen with Neighborworks. "This is our face, our face to the world right here."
Many of the people on this street can't even afford paint, yet alone a painter.
"She's been fighting cancer for 10 years, so that's where all our money has gone," said resident Gary Running of his wife Saundra.
But Tuesday, there were ladders against Gary and Saundra's home. Paint that dates back 10, maybe 20 years is being scraped away. Everyone involved is a volunteer. John Wolcott used to drive a truck, but he'll work the Runnings' home today, another tomorrow.
"I wish we could have three of four crews where we could do more houses," Wolcott said.
A professional painter will supervise the free paint jobs. Rich Holly is new to the harbor, and he too is a volunteer.
"Help out, like this lady here's got cancer. I think they couldn't afford it," Holly said.
The Runnings say this is a great city. They still say it's hard to believe, until they see all the people at work.
"Why would they want to paint our house? It's very gratifying, lot of love and kindness there," the Runnings said.
The Runnings' home and 24 others will be painted by June 19 as part of the "Paint the Corridor" project. A $20,000 contribution from a Grays Harbor attorney and his family, plus the work of dozens of volunteers have made the painting project a reality.
If you've ever driven the corridor through Hoquiam on the way to the ocean beaches, you've probably seen the modest homes, a few with new paint, but most a little sad and disheveled.
"We want to make the corridor represent us," said Dave Murnen with Neighborworks. "This is our face, our face to the world right here."
Many of the people on this street can't even afford paint, yet alone a painter.
"She's been fighting cancer for 10 years, so that's where all our money has gone," said resident Gary Running of his wife Saundra.
But Tuesday, there were ladders against Gary and Saundra's home. Paint that dates back 10, maybe 20 years is being scraped away. Everyone involved is a volunteer. John Wolcott used to drive a truck, but he'll work the Runnings' home today, another tomorrow.
"I wish we could have three of four crews where we could do more houses," Wolcott said.
A professional painter will supervise the free paint jobs. Rich Holly is new to the harbor, and he too is a volunteer.
"Help out, like this lady here's got cancer. I think they couldn't afford it," Holly said.
The Runnings say this is a great city. They still say it's hard to believe, until they see all the people at work.
"Why would they want to paint our house? It's very gratifying, lot of love and kindness there," the Runnings said.
The Runnings' home and 24 others will be painted by June 19 as part of the "Paint the Corridor" project. A $20,000 contribution from a Grays Harbor attorney and his family, plus the work of dozens of volunteers have made the painting project a reality.