Doing Good: Volunteers reenergize Decatur senior care home

The project is a part of Barbara Hamler’s ultimate vision to renovate the senior home that has been in Atlanta since 1882. “This property has been in our community for so long and when I walked into this place, I knew I had to be involved in the space that so many people call home,” said Hamler, who was introduced to the senior home in 2012 by a Sunday school classmate.

Over the years, Hamler and the board have taken on many projects such as replacing the furniture, renovating the meeting room and hosting linen drives. One of her many projects also included painting the outside of the structure to be more inviting and feel like a home.

Afte much organizing, Hamler partnered with the Painters Union and The United Way to give the facility a much-needed facelift.

“We are always doing volunteer work in the community, and were excited to be involved with Barbara to make this happen,” said Louis Partain of the Painters Union, IUPAT District Council 77.

Partain and other volunteers painted, replaced light fixtures and made other minor repairs for the senior home donating over $10,000 worth of services to Mountain View.

“This is their home,” said Hamler of the residents. “It needs to be a place of dignity and pride and we are really proud that projects like these are going to help bring that sentiment to the home and the people who live and work there.”

Although the painting project was already held, Hamler always looks for people who are willing to volunteer by spending time with the residents by participating in activities such as BINGO or helping with general maintenance around the home.

In other news: The Brookhaven Rotary Club presented an $85,000 check for the Shepherd Center's SHARE Military Initiative to center co-founder Alana Shepherd. The club has contributed over $225,000 to SHARE, which provides rehabilitation care for members of the military who have sustained traumatic brain injuries while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.