Submitted by Rachel Schemmerling
(September 25, 2026) — The Congregational Church in Killingworth, UCC is joining with St Lawrence Church, the Town Municipal Agent and Beechwood Community and is calling on local tradespeople, business owners, contractors, handymen and women, and community volunteers to donate just one or two hours of their time on October 24, 2026 to help elderly and disabled residents with small but important household tasks.
This volunteer effort will focus on residents of the Beechwood Community and several surrounding homes in Killingworth, particularly individuals living on limited incomes who may lack the physical ability or financial resources to take care of everyday home maintenance and repairs.
The projects are intentionally small—not major renovations or construction jobs. Volunteers may be asked to rake a lawn, water plants, fix a dripping faucet, tighten a loose railing, change a hard-to-reach light bulb, adjust a cabinet, touch up paint, replace a smoke detector battery, or handle a minor plumbing, electrical, carpentry, mechanical, landscaping, or household repair.
For someone who is elderly, disabled, living alone, or struggling financially, a task that takes a skilled volunteer just 20 minutes may have been a source of worry for months. “Sometimes the greatest gift is simply showing up and saying, ‘I can take care of that for you,’” said Rachel Schemmerling, Office Manager and Outreach Coordinator for The Congregational Church in Killingworth, UCC. “These may be small jobs, but they are not small to the people who need them done. A little bit of someone’s time and talent can make a home safer, make daily life easier, and remind a neighbor that their community cares.”
Volunteers will gather at 10:00 a.m. at the Beechwood/Sun Community Room for coffee and donuts, a brief welcome, and project assignments before heading out to assist residents. There is no ongoing commitment. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their tools and, if they wish, a coworker, employee, friend, or fellow community member.
Local businesses and entrepreneurs are also encouraged to participate. With permission, participating businesses and volunteers will be recognized through event publicity, marketing, and social media, including company logos and photographs of volunteers at work in the community.
One morning, for one or two hours, one opportunity to make a meaningful difference. Those interested in volunteering may contact Rachel Schemmerling at 860-663-1789 or respond directly to the church at its website, www.killingworthchurch.org or come to the Beechwood/Sun Community Room on the day of the event to sign up for available projects.
