By Christina Veiga
cveiga@MiamiHerald.com
For his day job, Gregory Sowinski is a translator for Special Operations Command South at the Homestead Air Reserve Base. But he earned a new title this week when he climbed atop St. Matthew’s Baptist Church in Homestead to help repair a leaky roof.
“I call myself ‘the hole-finder, ” said Sowinski, an Air Force technical sergeant. “I seem to stick my leg through the roof more than anyone.”
The old church, at 739 SW 12th Ave. in Homestead, hadn’t redone its roof since it was built in 1969, according to property records and the current church owner.
In the past three years, the congregation went through three pianos — each lost to water damage. Sometimes, so much water came in through the roof that church services had to be held outside.
But St. Matthew’s piano is dry now. And church-goers won’t have to brave the elements to attend services anymore.
Volunteers from the Homestead Air Reserve Base, the training center Job Corps, the local chamber of commerce Military Affairs Committee and area religious leaders recently spent days laying a new roof for the church. Even the city of Homestead pitched in, offering a dumpster for the project.
The group headed out with “nothing but sweat equity,” and the desire to do something good in Homestead, said Brock Shiffer, who leads the Speedway Community Church on the east side of Homestead, and who helped with the project.
Through word of mouth, they learned of the church’s need for a new roof. They rounded up volunteers, asked Lowe’s Home Improvement for donated materials and got to work in the sweltering sun.
“It felt good,” said 18-year old Clevon McCalla.
McCalla is in the Job Corps facility maintenance training program. Through Job Corps, he hopes to earn his GED and certification in facilities maintenance, and be licensed to run heavy machinery such as a forklift.
But after spending a week on a roof with military members, McCalla said he’s considering other career paths.
Army Lt. Col. Stewart Mason and Sowinski, both of Special Operations Command South, shoveled old shingles off the roof, peeled away rotten wood, and chatted with the Job Corps students as they worked.
“The whole point is to come out here and inspire other people,” Sowinski said.
“We’re not trying to be do-gooders,” added Mason. “We’re just trying to help. If we do good around the world, why not there in the community?”
“I call myself ‘the hole-finder, ” said Sowinski, an Air Force technical sergeant. “I seem to stick my leg through the roof more than anyone.”
The old church, at 739 SW 12th Ave. in Homestead, hadn’t redone its roof since it was built in 1969, according to property records and the current church owner.
In the past three years, the congregation went through three pianos — each lost to water damage. Sometimes, so much water came in through the roof that church services had to be held outside.
But St. Matthew’s piano is dry now. And church-goers won’t have to brave the elements to attend services anymore.
Volunteers from the Homestead Air Reserve Base, the training center Job Corps, the local chamber of commerce Military Affairs Committee and area religious leaders recently spent days laying a new roof for the church. Even the city of Homestead pitched in, offering a dumpster for the project.
The group headed out with “nothing but sweat equity,” and the desire to do something good in Homestead, said Brock Shiffer, who leads the Speedway Community Church on the east side of Homestead, and who helped with the project.
Through word of mouth, they learned of the church’s need for a new roof. They rounded up volunteers, asked Lowe’s Home Improvement for donated materials and got to work in the sweltering sun.
“It felt good,” said 18-year old Clevon McCalla.
McCalla is in the Job Corps facility maintenance training program. Through Job Corps, he hopes to earn his GED and certification in facilities maintenance, and be licensed to run heavy machinery such as a forklift.
But after spending a week on a roof with military members, McCalla said he’s considering other career paths.
Army Lt. Col. Stewart Mason and Sowinski, both of Special Operations Command South, shoveled old shingles off the roof, peeled away rotten wood, and chatted with the Job Corps students as they worked.
“The whole point is to come out here and inspire other people,” Sowinski said.
“We’re not trying to be do-gooders,” added Mason. “We’re just trying to help. If we do good around the world, why not there in the community?”
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/09/21/3014273/thanks-to-neighbors-homestead.html#storylink=cpy
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