Builders Care is working with the Swett Foundation and Operation Adoption on the renovation of a Jacksonville widow’s home.
The Swett Foundation and Operation Adoption provide financial assistance to couples who are adopting, but in return they ask the family to help a widow in need. Builders Care is providing the construction expertise and has identified the first widow to serve.
Donelle Tamburello, a resident of Jacksonville since the early 1990s, is the widow of Tony Tamburello, a jazz pianist who played for such notables as Tony Bennett, Judy Garland and Juliet Prowse.
After her husband’s passing in 1992, Tamburello, herself a former singer and entertainer, moved to Jacksonville with one of her daughters.
Since then, she has been living in a home with her family. Though she still loves to sing, she is limited by a wheelchair and is in her early 80s living on a very modest income.
Early this summer, Tamburello contacted Builders Care looking for help with her home. Fortunately the Swett Foundation partnership was there to provide some funding for her much-needed home repairs.
Builders Care decided to take on the project through the Swett Foundation’s grant. Matt Wilford, executive director of Builders Care, went to her home to meet Tamburello and assess her needs.
Unfortunately, the home has serious structural issues from a previous remodeling. A prior owner had a porch installed that is pulling away from the house.
This issue must be addressed quickly because the roof that is attached is also in danger. If the addition continues to settle, it can threaten the integrity of the entire house’s roof.
Work begins on the renovation Sept. 20, with a volunteer day on Oct. 4. Builders Care is shooting for a reveal date of Oct. 11.
Workers will remove sheetrock, siding and sheeting. With volunteer labor, Builders Care will reinstall siding and trim and paint the walls of the addition, as well as a separate garage which needs work.
Volunteers will also re-grade the lawn and do landscaping so that there is positive drainage away from the house, which will allow the house to remain safe and dry for many years.
To accomplish this large project, Builders Care has several needs. Although the Swett Foundation is providing some financial backing for the repairs, the job requires significantly more supplies and labor than available.
Builders Care is searching for corporate sponsorship to cover the remaining costs. In addition to financial contributions, in-kind donations of materials will lower the overhead for the renovation.
Builders Care can use donations of vinyl siding, door and window trim, Loxon exterior paint, acrylic and interior paint, sheetrock, 12-inch tile, base and shoe molding, paint rollers, trays and brushes, mulch, sod, pressure treated lumber and insulation.
If you or your organization can contribute through financial or in-kind donations, please contact Wilford at [email protected].