Community Relations Office
June 10th, 2004 -- Ground Zero's Project R.A.K.E. reaches out once again to neighbors in need. In a joint effort with Nottingham Presbyterian Church, they care for the whole person.
About 70 students participated in Project R.A.K.E., an outreach ministry of New London Church’s Ground Zero Youth, once again to improve the lives of area residents by repairing their homes recently. The youth, organized in work teams, spanned Southern Chester County from Kennett Square to Atglen, donating their time and talents re-shingling roofs, building a wheelchair ramp, painting a porch and repairing kitchens and bathrooms.
One crew, led by Project R.A.K.E. first-timer Mark Swanson whose daughter is active in Ground Zero, visited the Nottingham mobile home of Nancy Stewart, where the efforts of Project R.A.K.E. and Nottingham Presbyterian Church gave a renewed meaning to “love thy neighbor”.
Back in December of 2003, Nancy Stewart, drawn by the tolling of bells of Nottingham Presbyterian Church just a few days before Christmas, entered the sanctuary in search of help in locating her disabled mother. What she found were neighbors willing to help her more than she could have imagined.
According to pastor’s wife, Linda Lutz, Stewart, who lives near the church, has devoted 17 years of her life caring for her 83-year old invalid mother – their only income was her mother’s social security. In November her mother had fallen and was hospitalized. After recovering from her fall and a bout of pneumonia, she was sent to Harrison House, a nursing home in Lancaster County, and of course, the income went with her. “Since December, Nancy has been living on meager savings. She lives very simply and did not have a phone or a car. She needed help locating her mother, so she came to us,” said Lutz. “She has been a part of our church ever since.”
Lutz has helped Stewart get to Harrison House to see her mother several times in the last few months and is helping Stewart to forge ahead on her own, as well. Lutz contacted Project R.A.K.E. to help Stewart with some much-needed maintenance on her home.
“They are so nice and doing a wonderful job. They have replaced some flooring, patched the roof and completely redone my bathroom,” said Stewart. In fact, during the interview, Stewart was pleased to see the final touch of a mirror being put in place.
Project R.A.K.E. participants: Ken Loux, 17, Matt Dillon, 16, Sara Waltz, 18, Patrick Devlin, 14, Brian Stevens, 15, and Jeffrey Holden, 15, said they were all happy to spend their weekend in service to others.
“We are so blessed, it is nice to give something back – to offer up our skills to others. They are so appreciative,” said Lauren Atkins, wife of NLPC Youth Pastor Mike Atkins. Lauren was part of the crew at Stewart’s home.
“It is so much fun to learn new skills and get out and meet the homeowners. They are so happy,” said Stevens, who is a veteran of five Project R.A.K.E.s.
Now, with her mother cared for and her home in order, Stewart, who lives with her three cats, all of which she rescued, Charlene, Chartreuse and Charlemagne, is looking for gainful and meaningful employment to complete the picture.
“She has devoted her life to caring for her mother and now it is her turn to take care of herself,” said Lutz. “She is a wonderful, caring person who is willing and able to work and quick to learn. She would be wonderful in caring for older folks or children,” said Lutz. “If we could get her a job, we could figure out the transportation.”
To prepare, Stewart has been honing her interviewing skills with Lutz’s daughter a human resource professional. Stewart is a graduate of Bishop Shanahan High School and Goldey-Becom College, where she obtained an Associates Degree in Accounting in only one year and a half.
“I think I am good at taking care of old folks. I have patience, compassion, and a good sense of humor…You have to be if you take care of people,” she said with a smile. Another important quality in dealing with older folks, said Stewart, is the ability to notice subtle changes in behavior. In addition, to taking care of her mother, Stewart also cared for her grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s.
If you would like to help Nancy Stewart, please call the Nottingham Presbyterian Church at 610-932-0556.