The 18th annual Christmas in October is coming in a few months but the nonprofit’s board of directors is now accepting applications from low-income homeowners.
Christmas in October is an annual program where volunteers assist people who are unable to make repairs to their homes because they are low-income, elderly or disabled.
Since its beginning in 1999, Christmas in October has restored 110 homes throughout Chula Vista.
“We’ve repaired or fixed fences, gates, plumbing, patched roofs, painted homes and whatever else the home needs we try to do,” said Christmas in October chairwoman Emerald Randolph.
Anyone who wants to have their home renovated must fill out an application and turn it in before Sept. 1. Recipients will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. Volunteers will refurbish homes on Oct.14.
Applications for this year’s program may be obtained by calling Christmas in October Randolph at (619) 669-0538.
Applicants must submit information about homeowners insurance, bank account information and tax returns so that the board can verify that applicants are in fact low-income.
Military veterans and their families, the elderly or their widows/widowers who reside in Chula Vista are urged to apply. Applicants must be low-income and have to be homeowners living in the home.
Mobile homes are not included in the program.
Randolph and a house captain select applicants after a home visit.
Funding for the program comes from tax-deductible donations from corporations, individuals, labor organizations, foundations and civic organizations. Donations are used to buy materials and household items.
A group of 150 to 200 volunteers that help refurbish homes are comprised of community members, Chula Vista firefighters, Chula Vista police officers and Christmas in October board members.
“Everybody who works on these projects feel good about the effort that they put in,” Randolph said.
Every home is assigned a house captain who sees the project through from beginning to end. The house captain does a walk through of the home with a manager or assistant manager from Dixieline Lumber to look for whatever is wrong with the house and might need to be fixed.
Randolph said she couldn’t believe the program is already in its 18th year after she initially took the concept from National City’s Christmas in July program.
“I thought it was pretty good with what National City was doing with Christmas in July and I thought this was a type of thing that would also suit Chula Vista,” she said.
