Volunteers give Gordon woman Christmas in July
Jim Cook of the Dothan Eagle

Vera Castillo's home was falling apart.

Left alone since the death of her husband eight years ago and suffering from recent health problems, the 74-year-old Castillo was unable to perform the maintenance work needed to make her home a safe place to live.

The mobile home in Gordon where Castillo resides had developed holes in the floor and the problems with its wiring. The home has experienced more than one electrical fire, leaving only two working electrical outlets. Castillo recently suffered a severe heart attack and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which requires her to use an oxygen machine at times. Because of the electrical problems with her home, in the summertime she was forced to choose between running her oxygen machine or running her window unit air conditioner.

"It was a mess," Castillo said.

Castillo's home got an extreme makeover Saturday, thanks to the Southeast Alabama Regional Council on Aging, Covenant United Methodist Church, Ledford Electrical & Construction and Lowe's.

Castillo was identified as a senior in need by SARCOA's Santa for Seniors project, which provides aid for seniors during Christmastime. Dave Geiger, director of resources and activities, said stories like Castillo's are not uncommon. Geiger said about 31,000 seniors in the Wiregrass live in poverty, 8,000 of which in Houston County.

Starting in June and continuing into July, SARCOA, volunteers from Covenant and business sponsors worked to make Castillo's home livable again. They rewired the home and installed two air conditioners donated by Lowe's. They repaired the floor and installed new Carpeting.

Jim Hicks is a Covenant member who worked to install carpet Saturday.

"It's a privilege," he said. "Our goal is to have people like Ms. Castillo realize someone in their community cares for them. We're just trying to demonstrate God's love to all his people."