Keim Cares launches home renovation program

For many people, organizations and companies in Holmes County, serving and giving back is par for the course.

Keim is taking that to the next level through its Keim Cares housing repair project.

The initiative has been in partnership with Disaster Aid Ohio, Mennonite Disaster Relief and ProVia, and on Thursday and Friday, April 16-17, plenty of volunteers from all the participating entities showed up to help renovate and repair the home of Kyle and Stacy Snyder of Millersburg.

“We started this community home renovation project through Keim Cares nonprofit organization,” Keim Cares Director Anya Schlegel said. “We wanted to create a useful way to give back, and there is a great need throughout our community to help those in need of home repair who either can’t afford it or are unable to do so because of physical limitations.

“We started to make some key connections throughout the community and began to see that home renovation for the vulnerable population was a huge need, and knowing Keim was willing to provide volunteers and help make these projects a reality for homeowners was an exciting concept.”

Giving back to the community is something that creates a sense of connection, purpose and shared joy for those involved.

In this case, because it presents three different organizations teaming up to renovate the chosen homes, it also brings people together, builds friendships and strengthens the feeling that everyone is working toward something positive.

Schlegel said she hopes other companies will see this taking shape and want to find ways to add to the effort, creating a ripple effect of goodwill throughout the community.

Because of Keim’s size in employment, many individuals have knowledge in working with tools, and with ProVia’s professional work with doors and windows, this connection was an instant hit.

Bringing Mennonite Disaster Service/Disaster Aid of Ohio on board also was an ideal fit because they deal with efforts like this on a regular basis.

“It’s such a great fit for everyone involved, and we at Keim Cares also realized once we got into this that it was too big for one company, so we went to MDS and ProVia, and they were glad to get on board,” Schlegel said.

Schlegel said Gid Yoder of DAO can go into a home and assess the needs because the organization is already invested in home repair.

Keim Cares began accepting requests from the Holmes County community several months ago and finally decided on the Snyder home as its initial endeavor.

Schlegel said thus far Keim Cares has received 15 requests, and eight have been confirmed as eligible. She said they have distributed flyers to various nonprofits that deal with families and individuals who might be appropriate for the project.

In the Snyder home, they worked on flooring, carpet removal, hardwood floor repair, adding handrails, and adding new windows and doors, with ProVia providing the seven windows and the door for the renovation.

“Kyle actually came to us and asked if Keim Cares could help them tear out carpet in the house,” Schlegel said. “I brought Gid in with me to assess the situation, and we realized there was more that we could do.”

It was an ideal place for Keim Cares to start. As for those who volunteer, it also is a rewarding effort.

Randy Detweiler of ProVia said he was installing windows and doors, and being involved as part of the project is an honor.

“I was asked to volunteer, and I jumped at it,” Detweiler said. “ProVia has a history of giving back to the community, and it’s an important part of what we do.”

CJ Yoder, who came off Hiland High School’s winning state basketball team and jumped right into working at Keim and volunteering his services, said it's memorable and rewarding.

“Being able to support the community after all of the ways the community supported us during basketball is a great feeling,” Yoder said. “It’s an honor to be able to give back to others, and it’s rewarding in its own way.”

Keim Cares is continuing to take requests for the program, and Schlegel said there is no end to what Keim Cares and this community can do for those in need.

“It’s exciting. We’re just getting started,” Schlegel said.

If anyone would like to request a possible home renovation site or should any area business or individual like to get connected with aiding the project, whether it is offering materials or funding, they may call Schlegel at 330-893-2251 ext. 1033.