Project CommUNITY: Louisville organization helping families stay warm, make homes efficient
As the cold weather moves in, a Louisville organization is making sure families stay safe and warm.
"Anytime that you open a door and if you see daylight coming around the door it needs weather stripping," said Ricky Harris with Project Warm.
Inside a home off Newburg Road in the Bashford Manor neighborhood, Harris moves from room to room.
"If it's loose, it will let air in," Harris said.
Harris is checking seals and patching drafts to help homeowners keep the cold out.
"The need is gigantic. It's a lot of people that has homes that just really can't afford the home, but they don't know what else to do, and they don't want to let their home go," Harris said.
Harris is the weatherization tech for Project Warm's first line service. It's a nonprofit that helps families in need make their home more energy efficient.
"It's really essential work. So we are able to seal doors and windows, with weather stripping that's, pretty permanent. And it keeps people warm through the winter, but also more and more helps keep people cool in the summer," said Grant Johnson, Project Warm program director.
Johnson said it's not just about making repairs, it's also about educating homeowners.
"So we help people understand how important it is for their home to be more tightly sealed against the elements. And a lot of people don't really understand how much money they're losing on their energy bills that way, but also how much it's affecting their health, safety and comfort in the home," he said.
Project Warm's services are free to those who qualify, thanks to donations, grants and partnerships.
But Johnson said the need far outweighs the help available.
"So recently, the city of Louisville did an audit and determined that there are 30,000 homes in need of some kind of emergency home repair right now, today — and last year, all of the agencies, including Project Warm, were only able to serve a thousand homes," Johnson said.
While the need continues to grow, volunteer Mark Morales says he will keep the mission moving forward, one neighbor at a time.
"I've been doing all of this for 11 years, and it just it just gives you a good feeling. Give it back to the community and helping other folks that really need your help. And, I'm able to do it, and I'll do it as long as I can," Morales said.
The same is true for Harris, who says serving others, especially seniors, means everything to him.
"I met a 100 year old lady and we went around her house, and she was just over thrilled with joy that we could come out to do that for her," Harris said.
Project Warm is an affiliate of Blueprint 502 and serves Louisville and surrounding areas. The organization is in need of volunteers and donations.
If you would like to donate or volunteer, click here.
