On Saturday, June 15, community spirit was in the air around RP Johnson and Son’s We Build It Forward (WBIF) Community Outreach Event. Over 40 volunteers came together on this special day of helping those in need. Volunteers came from as far away as Yarmouth, Maine to work on eight projects in Sunapee, New London, Andover, Danbury, and Franklin.
(On July 1, 2013, RP Johnson and Son was acquired by Belletetes, Inc., headquartered in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. For details, see this article.)
Applications for the WBIF projects started arriving in Sue Johnson’s office last March. Sue is the WBIF Event Coordinator and is responsible for reviewing each project and determining if it qualifies based on need. Some projects require materials and labor, while others only require materials as friends and family members volunteer to provide the labor.
There is no cost to the recipient. Each project is visited by Sue and Ernie Dennis, RP Johnson’s Installed Sales Division manager, to determine the material list, man-power, and tools required. If you or someone you know needs a helping hand, please get in touch with Sue at Sue.Johnson@nullRPJohnsons.com.
Four projects were completed prior to June 23, with RP Johnson and Son donating the materials and family and friends donating the labor. One New London resident received the materials to build a handicap ramp so she could go outside her home without waiting for someone to assist her; another family in New London received a handicap ramp so the husband who was suffering from cancer could go in and out of their home; a family in Franklin had a stove hood installed to help clean the air for their son, who suffers from asthma; and a Sutton resident received roofing materials to replace an old roof that was leaking and causing mold to grow in the attic.
Throughout the day on June 15, eight other projects were started and most completed; there were a few minor finishing touches that were completed in the days following.
Three Andover Projects
Three projects were in Andover this year. An elderly woman who received new front steps during last year’s WBIF was able to have volunteers stain the steps for her; an elderly man who is in his 90s was able to stain most of his log home, but was unable to reach the peaks and the trim, so volunteers were able to finish his painting project.
The third project was a big one. A woman had a lot of work done to her home in East Andover during the event – new front steps, new gutters, new kitchen countertop and sink, new kitchen flooring, kitchen painted, basement stairs, a delivery of cord wood, donated by Hurlbutt Construction of Andover, was cut, split, and stacked (about seven cords); and she will have Wet Basement Solutions of Sutton help her with her continually flooded basement.
Several of RP Johnson’s vendors, along with local businesses, donated funds to cover the materials for each project. The sponsors this year were: Carey Builders, Hurlbutt Construction, CLF Builders, Husband for A Day, Traditional Craftsmen, Emery-Waterhouse, AW Hastings, Benjamin Moore, Cabico Cuisine, Coastal Forest Products, Cross Communications, Cushman Lumber, Dow Building Solutions, Lakes Region Tent and Event, Ledyard National Bank, Proctor Academy, United States Gypsum, Sunapee Lions Club, Andover Lions Club, WNTK Talk Radio, and New London Floorcraft.
The event culminated with a pig roast prepared by PartyTimePigRoasting.com and salads provided by Proctor Academy. There was also music from a local band. The RP Johnson team made up a strong portion of the support staff leading up to the event, and many worked on projects during the day. The entire staff really cares about this event, and it is very evident.
Every sponsor and volunteer deserves special thanks for the contribution they made to our community and neighbors. RP Johnson and Son is proud to be part of such a supportive and altruistic community and network and wants to thank the volunteers and sponsors for everything they have done to support their We Build It Forward Community Outreach program.
If you would like to become a sponsor or you would like to volunteer for next year’s We Build it Forward program, you can contact Sue Johnson at 735-5193 or e-mail her at Sue.Johnson@nullRPJohnsons.com.
About RP Johnson and Son
For four generations, RP Johnson and Son, a New Hampshire building supply company, has provided the highest-quality building products and millwork, up-to-date facilities, latest hardware and lumber industry technology, exceptional customer service, and genuine caring about the community. At RP Johnson and Son, customers enjoy unique building supply services that go beyond the norm, such as a drive-thru lumber yard, a 5,000 square-foot Millwork Showcase, Handy-at-Home™ do-it-yourself workshops, custom orders, and quality vendors, including Marvin Windows and Doors and Benjamin Moore. RP Johnson and Son provides lumber and hardware and service you can build on. Visit them at RPJohnsons.com.