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Volunteers rally to build new home for disabled man
By Emily Elders
A disabled Caney Fork resident whose home was in disrepair will soon have a brand-new house – thanks not to any particular organization or church, but to the spirited effort of community volunteers from all walks of life.
Tim Phillips, who has been semi-paralyzed since a 1987 car wreck, currently lives in an old house that is hard to heat and difficult for his wheelchair to move in and around. A friend of his, Steve Alexander of Hearts with Hands, noticed the trouble Phillips was in after his grandmother, who was one of his main caretakers, died last summer.
“I knew then that something had to be done, and though I’d been thinking about doing something for a while, it definitely pushed me forward,” said Alexander, who is coordinating the project.
Phillips communicates using a letter board and is wheelchair-bound. Years of practice have helped him be more self-sufficient, but a limited income and a lack of available caretakers have made it difficult for any improvements to be made to his living situation, Alexander said.
After applying for help through several agencies, including Habitat for Humanity and Mountain Projects, Alexander decided to go ahead with the project without agency support.
“We kept running into dead ends everywhere we applied,” he said. “Finally, I just decided that meant God was calling me to do this on my own.”
The new house is being built on the same property as Phillips’ old one, and will be well-insulated and designed to accommodate Phillips’ wheelchair and other equipment. The old home will remain standing.
So far, the project has gone well, according to Alexander. Excavating work has been done, and the group hopes to pour footings this week, with plans to begin framing within the next few weeks.
“Several people have really stepped up to help move this along,” said Alexander. “It’s been a blessing, but what we need right now is for the support to keep coming.”
Individuals who have volunteered the project so far include Mike Harris, Rory Raines, Dave Austin, Aaron Carter, Debbie Queen, Josh Hall, Ronnie Cook, Todd Mathis and several members of Sols Creek Baptist Church. Businesses who have assisted include C & M Backhoe, Southern Concrete Materials, Lowe’s, Southern Lumber, Luker Drilling and Blasting, Sylva Rental and McNeely’s.
Alexander thinks the outpouring of support so far is a sign of the community’s willingness to do for others what they’d like done for themselves in the same situation.
“You have to have a heart of compassion for others, or you can’t expect to get help and compassion in return,” he said. “There’s a lack of help for people right here in our community, though our society stresses helping people all over the world.”
Volunteer labor is needed, as well as building materials and supplies. Alexander says the group is “running on faith” and is not funded from any source except community donations.
“This isn’t a long story, but it’s a very important one,” he said. “We would sure appreciate anyone else who could lend their support to this project.”
To volunteer or donate materials, call Alexander at 506-9551. Donations may also be sent to United Community Bank, c/o Tim Phillips House Account, 55 Asheville Hwy., Sylva, NC 28779.
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