Christmas miracles can seem few and far between, especially for families that have suffered through tragedy. But last week, Arvada was lucky enough to experience, two miracles, which happened to be just around the corner from one-another.
Two houses, with two families who have both suffered terrible loss, will be a lot more comfortable this holiday season thanks to a small army of volunteers, KBPI and Peace Jam.
The first household, located on VanGordon Street, belongs to Linda Zimmerman. A stay-at-home-mom to two daughters, she lost her husband to a motorcycle accident in October. The father, Jason Zimmerman, had been the breadwinner for an extended household that included his two daughters, his mother, stepfather, sister and nephew.
The second house belongs to Mary Hart, who lives with her daughter and grandchildren. Hart lost her son Joshua Mitchell a few years ago.
On Dec. 9 Willie B and a gathering of volunteers and friends for both households gathered on the front lawns, to greet the families as they returned home from a week's stay at a nearby hotel.
When Hart first saw her house, with the crowd out front she began to cry.
"Are we happy?" Willie B asked as he steered her towards the refurbished interior.
"I'm overly happy!" she shouted. "How do I say 'thank you' enough to everyone here?"
For the past four years, Willie B of KBPI radio has reached out to listeners during the holiday season to nominate families and friends in need of substantial home repairs. And each year, contractors, small businesses and artists have answered the call, doing extensive work in only a week. This year's work included roof work, new furnaces, new flooring, bathrooms, painting, landscaping and this year even a chainsaw sculpture of a hammer with angel wings to serve as a memorial for Jason Zimmerman.
"It just shows how one person can create that Christmas miracle for someone else," said Arvada City Councilman David Jones, who attended the event.
Marc Shutto with Above All Restoration, one of the main partners in the annual Hammers N' Angels, said the group gets as many as 2,000 requests a year, but was happy to tackle not one, but two projects this year, since they were so close together.
As many as 100 local Colorado companies and craftsmen and women joined the cause giving their time and skills day and night for the past week so both homes will be finished this afternoon.
"If it's anything we can offer, it's our talent, our skill," said Brett Mickelsen, the owner of CQL-200 Constructors, who serves as the general contractor for the two projects.
Shutto estimated the market rate for just the work on the Zimmerman home would equal more than $100,000.
"To see all the effort and all the volunteerism, it really highlights what goes on here in Arvada," said Arvada Mayor Marc Williams, who also attended the home unveiling.
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Two-Arvada-homes-receive-miraculous-makeovers,240421
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