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How many people know what
“flipping” a house means? We
recently received a phone call from
Susan Herr who was interested in
doing some volunteer work. When
Susan talked about having “flipped”
a property that she had owned with
her husband I wasn’t necessarily
impressed. I had flashbacks of
flipping my sister’s dollhouse upside
down and shaking all of the furniture
out. I thought that scenario was
unlikely and hoped that “flipping”
was insider jargon for renovating or
rehabbing.
I set up a meeting with Susan and
we walked through the house
looking at carpentry and painting
Thank you Susan……
By Kimberly Parsons
Dismas bathroom gets a makeover
projects. Susan chose the upstairs
bathroom as the area that needed the
most attention. She didn’t seem
discouraged by the old wallpaper
clinging to the plaster & lath walls.
Knowing a little about old houses I
96 Buell Street · Burlington, VT 05401
802.658.0381 · info@dismasofvermont.org · www.dismasofvermont.org
had visions of the plaster coming
down with the wallpaper but Susan
seemed quite confident that her
homemade recipe for removing
wallpaper (Fabric Softener & Water
Solution) would do the trick. We
agreed on the terms, she would do
everything, and we would try to stay
out of her way. Susan came and
went over the next few weeks, turning
the tired bathroom into a work of art.
She patched and painted walls, put in
new light fixtures, repaired cupboard
doors and hung curtains. Every
organization’s dream… a volunteer
with skills who just comes in and gets
the job done, and it turns out beautiful.
Our heartfelt thanks to Susan!
For me being released from jail t
Dismas House was extremely helpful
To find people who really actuall
cared to see that you achieved gav
me hope. Dealing with corrections an
just getting out of jail with no job i
tough. Being in a positive environmen
was extremely helpful in keeping m
in a positive mind frame. In jail you
surroundings are cold, but coming to
place like Dismas helps you see tha
there are people who just don’t live fo
themselves but for others also. To se
people who came to this house t
make dinner and take time out of thei
own lives to help people they don’
even know. Being around staff an
meeting the people who came here t
support us made you want to be
better person.
Dismas helped me get my life i
order. Not having to worry about
roof over my head was a blessing
Being at Dismas gave me th
opportunity to find a job. Being her
was pivotal in taking my own life in
positive direction. It is a place where i
you are seeking to take your life in
positive direction they will support yo
100 percent. Coming here it show
you the importance of community.
learned that you need to b
concerned not just for yourself but fo
the people around you. Being here
you will have to learn not to be selfish.
In jail you learn the opposite.
When I was released from jail I was
scared I would make the wrong
decisions. Coming to Dismas gave me
the foundation I needed not to make
those same mistakes. When you get
out of jail people look at you funny. At
least when you are here people don’t
judge you on your past but on your
actions now. They realize that people
can change.
-
Burlington Dismas House Resident
My time at Dismas House
Come join us for the 6th
annual
Burlington Dismas House plant
extravaganza, as only the Gibeault’s
can provide!
A special plant sale will be held on
Thursday through Sunday, May 22 to
25. The Vermont hardy perennials
will be available for sale 9-5.
You will find us at 1033 Pine Street
in Burlington, immediately off of
Home Avenue.
We hope to see you there!
Burlington Dismas House Plant Sale
Volunteer Handyman
Wanted
We are looking for a
volunteer who can paint &
patch walls and work on
small carpentry projects at
Dismas House.
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