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Volunteers Finish Fairfield Family's Home Makeover

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Looking at photos of Holly Flynn’s home just a month ago and driving by the Fairfield Woods Road house today, you could hardly tell you’re looking at the same building. Flynn and her four kids got a home makeover earlier this month through the help of Love Where You Live Homes and Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County (CFC).

Flynn’s two sons have developmental disabilities and much of Holly’s income goes toward their care. As a result, her house fell into disrepair.

But Habitat CFC chose Flynn as the first recipient of the group’s Critical Home Repair program. Glen Tatangelo, former board member of Habitat CFC and a partner in Love Where You Live Homes, sponsored the project through his company and the Tatangelo Family Trust. The company and groups of volunteers installed new siding and new bathroom and kitchen fixtures and repaired many of the home’s walls, leaving it like new.

Many local volunteer groups provided the labor for the project, including First Presbyterian Church and Grace Methodist Church, both of Fairfield, Salem Lutheran Church of Bridgeport, Redding Congregational Church and B’nai Israel of Bridgeport, Americorps, Habitat CFC future homeowners and corporate volunteers from Millward Brown and Sikorsky Aircraft.

Then there were those like Chad McCullough. McCullough lives near the Flynns and felt motivated to help after reading their story in the local media.

“My wife and I live in the neighborhood and we would drive by and wonder how the house had come to need so much care,” McCullough said. “We enjoyed the work and being able to help create a comfortable living space for a family contending with so much.  It was really just helping a neighbor.”

Love Where You Live Homes provided about $20,000 in materials and labor. But the project still needs about $6,000 in funding.  To donate to this project or to find out more about Habitat CFC, call Lisa Cannella at 203-333-2642, mail a check to Habitat CFC 1542 Barnum Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06610 or visit the organization’s website.

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