HAMMER & NAILS, INC.
History
Current Programs and Activities

 

History:
Hammer & Nails grew out of a temporary outreach ministry at North Industry Christian Church. This ministry, Rolling Valley Workcamp, began in 1993 and continued through December 1999. During this time, a weeklong workcamp was held in 1995 and again in 1998. Church youth groups were invited to Canton, Ohio for a mission trip. Each camp was filled with 400 teenagers and 50 to 60 service projects were completed for disadvantaged area homeowners. Each camp took 18 months to set-up and another eight months to clean-up. The gift to the community for each camp was around $250,000 in material and volunteer labor.

Because of the success of Rolling Valley Workcamp it led to the continuation of assisting disadvantaged area homeowners through December 1999. The group was encouraged by its funding sources and the church to become an independent 501(C)(3) non profit. In May 2000, Hammer & Nails, Inc. became a non profit organization dedicated to providing home and property improvements to disadvantaged Stark County homeowners. Hammer & Nails picked up where Rolling Valley Worckcamp ended and never missed a beat.

To date, Rolling Valley Workcamp and Hammer & Nails has assisted 700+ homeowners with home and property improvements. Many of these homeowners have received more than one service project.

The need is great in the Canton area and throughout Stark County.  Projects are approved and are either waiting for volunteers or are in progress. Over 200 applicants await a home interview.

 

Current Programs & Activities:
The purpose of Hammer & Nails is to improve the quality of life for disadvantaged Stark County homeowners by providing home and property improvements. The targeted groups of homeowners are elderly, mentally/physically challenged and/or impoverished.

Referrals come from many area social service agencies, churches and individuals. Some of the agencies consist of: ICAN, MRDD, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Canton City Code Enforcement/Community Development, Area Agency on Aging, Child and Adolescent Service Center and Neighborhood organizations.

Hammer & Nails assist selected homeowners in a variety of ways:

• Carpentry, drywall repair, exterior and interior painting, landscaping/yard work, porch construction, step repair, porch roofing, weatherization through insulation and door replacement and wheelchair ramps.
• In some cases a homeowner may provide the material, but is not capable to complete the project and Hammer & Nails will provide the volunteer labor.
• In some cases the homeowner is able to do the work, but does not have the means to purchase the necessary material (ex. paint, lumber, etc). In this instance, Hammer & Nails will provide the material and the homeowner will complete the work.
• In the majority of the cases, Hammer & Nails provides both the material and volunteer labor at no cost to the homeowner. However, if the homeowner or family members are physically able to help with the project they are strongly encouraged to assist in the project.  Some of the elderly bake cookies or provide snacks to volunteers.

 

Benefits to the homeowner:

• - Property improved
• - Spirits lifted
• - Personal contact for many lonely people through interviewing, estimating, material delivery, project time, volunteers and follow-up visits
• - New friendships
• - Financial burdens lifted
• - Restore faith in mankind; especially youth

 

Benefits to the volunteer:

• - New skills learned
• - Accomplished a specific goal
• - New friendships established
• - Improved the quality of life for an individual or family
• - Increased interest in volunteerism
• - Improved not only individual property, but also the neighborhood, city and community.

 

Upcoming 2009 events:

Mission Possible 2009 – Hammer & Nails theme “Mission Possible 2009” focuses on assisting as many homeowners in need as possible.  By taking a “mission” focus and offering volunteers the opportunity to do a “Mission in your own Backyard”.
One day Mission Service Project
Mini-Mission Service Project

Fundraisers:    see more details  (go to fundraiser page)
January 17th  - Mystery Dinner Theater @ The Quarry Golf Club
February 17th – CiCi’s Pizza – Massillon, Rt 21
March 23rd – Taggart’s IceCream
July 11th – Annual Golf Outing