On September 20, community spirit was in the air around Belletetes’ We Build It Forward (WBIF) Community Outreach Event. Close to 100 volunteers came together on this special day of helping those in need and worked on 15 projects in the Andover, Jaffrey, and Ashland areas.
Applications for the WBIF projects started arriving in Sue Johnson’s office in Andover last May. Sue is the WBIF Event Coordinator and is responsible for reviewing each project and determining if it qualifies based on need. Sue and a project leader visit each project to determine the material list, manpower, and tools required.
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.
Seven projects were worked on in the communities surrounding Belletetes’ Andover and Sunapee locations; one project was completed on September 19, and one will be worked on in another week. The projects this year included:
- new playground roofs at the Andover Elementary/Middle School
- ramps to help an elderly woman in Danbury have access to her barn and sheds
- exterior painting for an elderly woman in Danbury
- stacking wood for a family in Danbury
- new storm door installation and minor repair work in a bathroom for a woman in Elkins
- a new metal roof and firewood for a family in North Sutton
- replacement windows for an elderly woman in Sunapee
The projects in the Jaffrey area included tearing down and replacing a deck so a woman in Jaffrey would have access to her front door without fear of the deck falling down; new steps for an elderly woman so she could safely enter and exit her home; painting a classroom at the Monadnock Community Early Learning Center by a group of Peterborough Boy Scouts and troop leaders, and reroofing a garage roof for a low-income family in Jaffrey.
Two projects were completed in the Ashland community – winterizing/insulating the crawl space for an elderly couple in their 90s; and repair work on a ramp and stairs, yard clean-up, and removal of a downed tree for a woman with disabilities.
The event culminated with a barbecues at the Jaffrey and Andover locations. The Belletetes team made up a strong portion of the support staff leading up to the event, and many worked on projects during the day of the event. 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. This is the first year Belletetes has taken on the neighbor-helping-neighbor program, after learning about the program when they purchased RP Johnson and Son in 2013. “When we learned about the program, we thought it had great merit and was something we should expand into other communities where we have a presence,” Mike Shea, Vice President of Belletetes, said.
If you would like to become a sponsor or volunteer for next year’s We Build it Forward program, you can contact Sue Johnson at 735-5193 or SJohnson@nullBelletetes.com.
About Belletetes
Belletetes has been helping Southern New Hampshire build better since 1898. Over a century ago, our company was founded by Elie Belletete, who believed that high-quality products and outstanding customer service are the foundation for a lasting and successful business. A lot has changed since then, but our commitment to those beliefs has remained the same. Today, as back then, we’ve found what matters most is having the right products at the right prices and the most highly-trained people to maximize our service and your satisfaction.
Belletetes has six locations in New Hampshire – Jaffrey, Peterborough, Nashua, Andover, Sunapee, and Ashland Lumber; and one in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Visit Belletetes.com for more information.