Volunteers are fixing houses, lifting spirits
They rise early in the morning and commute from Johnson County to the inner city. They organize schedules, purchase supplies and supervise the workforce. They work inside and out, in all kinds of weather, often on the weekends. </p><p>And they do it all for free. </p><p>LeRoy Zimmerman of Overland Park and Arlin Buyert of Leawood are just two of hundreds of volunteers at Metro Lutheran Ministry in Kansas City. But they are especially noteworthy for the many hours they devote to the organization, according to Jim Glynn, Metro Lutheran Ministry’s executive director. </p><p>“It’s an act of love these guys do,” Glynn said. “It’s all their own time, their own gas money, their own tools, their own vehicles.”</p><p>Both men are in their 70s. Buyert retired from corporate work and previously owned a construction company. Zimmerman had some construction experience from early years in the military, as well as from his career with a nonprofit agency. </p><p>The two men “captain” the organization’s Minor Home Repair division. It serves elderly and disabled people referred by neighborhood associations, utility companies and other agencies. </p><p>The program is only for people who own their own homes. “That’s a critical thing,” Zimmerman said. Most of their clients survive on Social Security checks, perhaps $600 or $700 a month, which goes mostly to food and utility expenses. </p><p>“They don’t have money to put a new window in or to pay someone to fix something,” Buyert said. “We enable them to stay.”</p><p>“Our goal is to keep them safe and secure in their own home as long as possible,” Zimmerman said, rather than leaving them to face homelessness or a move to a facility. </p><p>On a recent weekday morning, Zimmerman repaired a ramp on a sidewalk stairway. The 89-year old homeowner had fallen and broken her foot when the old ramp rusted through. </p><p>A couple of blocks away, Buyert painted a structure he’d built on a home. Helping him was Ellen Clayton of Leawood, a senior at DePauw University in Indiana. </p><p>“It’s fun coming out here,” Clayton said. “It’s nice to help them stay there and fix stuff the way they want.” </p><p>Clayton enjoyed meeting the homeowners — a brother and sister who lived in a house originally purchased by their father. The woman sat right in front of the window to watch them work. She said, “My dad would be so happy if he could see this right now.”</p><p>Zimmerman and Buyert also manage large service projects, with many volunteers from area youth and church groups and some this summer coming from Iowa. </p><p>Metro Lutheran Ministry volunteers aren’t from only Lutheran churches. “Last week we had Methodists,” Zimmerman said, “and last year we had a group of Buddhists. It’s folks who really care about someone else.” </p><p>In May, they supervised a group of 75 nurses from the University of Kansas Medical Center. “It was National Nurses Day and they wanted to do something in the community to give back,” Zimmerman said. “They painted 13 houses.”</p><p>Greg Marquardt of Shawnee helped Zimmerman with the rail replacement project. He noted that advanced skills aren’t necessary to work with Buyert and Zimmerman. </p><p>“They set everything up and I just show up,” Marquardt said. “They lead me, and say do this and do this and sweep this and carry this.” </p><p>Clayton agreed that Zimmerman and Buyert are great leaders. “Arlin and LeRoy are very good at teaching different things, and very patient,” she said. </p><p>“We spend a lot of time preparing, getting ready for folks,” Zimmerman said, “so that when they come their time is productive.” </p><p>Why not relax and enjoy more typical retiree pursuits?</p><p> “We do that, too,” Zimmerman said with a laugh. He and Marquardt mentioned dining out, concerts, family and travel. But they want something more. </p><p>“I think it has to do with purpose in life,” Zimmerman said, “rather than saying, ‘It’s all about me.’ And if you’ve got something to offer, why not?” </p><p>“I need a mission, I just do. I enjoy helping people. I’ve done it all my life,” Buyert said. “These (predominantly) elderly, African-American women have needs that I can fulfill.”</p><p>He tears up a little as he repeats a homeowner’s comment when he finished her window project. “Ain’t no snow gonna come in here this winter.” </p><p>Buyert noticed that a homeowner had put in a garden. She said that after he made her deck and lattice look so nice, it made her want to improve her house. “So then I realized that we’re not just fixing the house up, we’re fixing them up — their spirits,” Buyert said. “Who wouldn’t feel better in a house that’s in better shape?”</p><p>“They’re both great guys,” Glynn said of Buyert and Zimmerman. “They’re what you would like to think of as good Christians, doing the work of the Lord in a very intentional but modest way. But the fruit of their labor is tremendous. They’re just spreading love wherever they go.” </p><p>“Give it a try. It’s very rewarding,” Buyert said. “You get exercise. You get fresh air. You get the feeling of helping people who really need help.” </p><p>“You can tell at the end of the day,” Zimmerman said, “we’re going to make a difference.” </p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">How to help </span></strong><br /> For information with Metro Lutheran Ministries, go to <a href="http://www.mlmkc.org">www.mlmkc.org</a>.
Day And Zimmerman - News
They're just spreading love wherever they go.” “Give it a try. It's very rewarding,” Buyert said. “You get exercise. You get fresh air. You get the feeling of helping people who really need help.” “You can tell at the end of the day,” Zimmerman said,
Despite their return to Washington in the early morning hours on Thursday morning and the rare scheduled off day that greeted them on the calendar, nearly the entire team joined third baseman Ryan Zimmerman
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Sisters showcased their Spring Summer collection celebrating all thing spring in the heritage listed building known as the Classic Throttle Shop in North Sydney.
Not unlike the beautiful sexy motor vehicles normally housed in this establishment, the Zimmerman outfits were sleek and sexy. A beautiful collection filled with sensual loungewear, flowing dresses, short wrap skirts and capri pants; all in an assortment of flowing pastels and cream skirts, offset with crisp clean silk dresses in white, tan and aqua. There was strong focus on diamond-cut inserts, lace and embroidered brocade.
Whilst hair and make-up was not a feature at the Zimmerman show, free flowing hair, with face bronzer and brown toned eye shadow used sparingly; the nails popped with colour. A minty fresh green lacquer shade featured on the nails at the Zimmerman show.
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