Lake Travis nonprofit helps homeowners

Partners in Hope, a Lake Travis–area nonprofit, has completed dozens of improvement projects for local homeowners in need. The nonprofit supplies volunteers with the tools needed to tackle tasks such as raking leaves, cleaning out closets, replacing toilets and repairing faulty wiring.

Since becoming a nonprofit in 2012, Partners in Hope has helped elderly homeowners, widows, single mothers and families whose homes have fallen into disrepair because of job loss, illness, depression or other issues.

"Although we're an affluent community, there is a lot of need here," Executive Director Matt Peacock said. "If you drive up and down [RR] 620, you may never see it, but take a couple of turns, and you discover a huge need."

The nonprofit relies on word of mouth as well as referrals from the Lake Travis Crisis Ministries to find families in need. Partners in Hope also depends on donations to fund its work.

On Saturday mornings, as many as 30 volunteers help pull weeds from garden beds, tear out carpet, replace windows—whatever needs to be done at the designated home. Generally, work wraps up by mid-afternoon, but occasionally there is a follow-up day to complete unfinished projects.

Home improvement projects appeal to a broad range of people who are looking for a way to serve others, Peacock said.

"Kids and adults like the hands-on stuff," he said. "As long as someone else can figure out the details, [such as where to go, when to show up, what tools to bring], there's a great desire for people to help."

But the mission of Partners in Hope goes beyond cleaning out garages and replacing floorboards. According to Peacock, a former minister, the projects simply "open the door" to what he hopes is an ongoing relationship between the volunteers and the families they have helped.

Volunteers often make return visits to the homeowners with whom they have formed a bond. Partners in Hope also frequently helps homeowners find other resources—counseling, social services or medical assistance—they may need. Recipient families are also encouraged to join Partners in Hope in serving others.

"We're not about the projects," Peacock said. "We're about bringing hope to people. By fixing up their properties, we're giving people a glimpse that things can be better."

Recent project

On June 21 and 28, Partners in Hope worked in the Spicewood area with a single mother, Kim, who suffered a stroke in fall 2013 and has back issues that limit her mobility.

In anticipation of an upcoming surgery, Partners in Hope spent time at Kim's mobile home, where she lives with her daughter, to build a wheelchair ramp.

Chili's donation date

Chili's restaurant in the Hill Country Galleria will select a date on which a percentage of a customer's tab will be donated to Partners in Hope. No date has been selected.

Eat, Pray, Love

Once a month volunteers with Partners in Hope host a dinner for the families they have served. They have named the dinner Eat, Pray, Love, not because of any connection to the book or movie, but because the name aptly describes what occurs at the event, Executive Director Matt Peacock said.

Area churches are invited to take turns hosting the monthly dinner.

Partners in Hope, 512-751-5877, www.partnersinhope.laketravis.org, [email protected]