September 11, 2001 was a horrific day that will never be forgotten by anyone who was old enough to understand what happened on that date. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance Program was created by families of some of the victims of 9/11 to turn a day of tragedy into a day of doing good for others, and thus honor those whose lost their lives in the attacks or their aftermath.
A Community Effort to Strengthen Neighborhoods
As part of this effort, Ritchietown Renaissance, Inc., a non-profit historic preservation organization based in South Wheeling, is conducting the Stronger Together: 9/11 Care & Repair Project. The organization is leading efforts to conduct small home repairs in South Wheeling, East Wheeling and Wheeling Island. The project is funded by a grant from Volunteer West Virginia, which pays for materials, and the labor is being performed by local volunteers.
The Project directly supports veterans, the disabled, the elderly, and low-income households in these neighborhoods by improving housing conditions, enhancing safety, and fostering neighborhood pride. Many residents face physical, financial, or logistical challenges that prevent them from maintaining their homes and yards. Applications were received earlier this summer, and work will be performed through the end of September.
Volunteers Making a Difference
This project is mobilizing community members and volunteers to assist with home and yard maintenance, ensuring these households have safer and more welcoming living spaces. Beyond immediate physical improvements, this initiative is strengthening neighborhood connections, fostering a spirit of collaboration and support. Volunteers are building relationships with residents, reinforcing a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. The project is also contributing to preserving the historic character of these neighborhoods, promoting civic pride and encouraging long-term community stewardship.
Volunteers are working at the home of Donna Terry in East Wheeling, helping to convert a first-floor room into a bedroom, enhancing kitchen lighting, hanging a storm door, and replacing a missing window. Donna stated, “I am just so grateful to have come across this program. It has put a light at the end of my tunnel because I am a senior citizen trying to stay in my home. And with this help, it has made my house safer and made me more able to live a healthier life in my own home. It speaks volumes about what we can do as a group.”
Erin Driscoll lives on Wheeling Island with her siblings, Sheila and Tim. Erin stated, “I want to give a big thank you to Ritchietown Renaissance. They’ve come in and worked hard replacing walls and ceilings in our home and we are so grateful for the help. They work so hard and they’re all so friendly. And they’ve brought a lot of happiness to me and my siblings.”
Other projects include repairing and painting a porch, rebuilding porch steps, replacing a bathroom floor, fence repair, painting, yard cleanup and other jobs. A celebration to thank the volunteers will be held on Thursday, September 11 at the Wheeling City Council Chambers.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Vision
Debbie Griffin, president of Ritchietown Renaissance, commented, “Wheeling has wonderful historic housing stock, but many buildings are in need of repairs. We hope that this effort can be the start of a city-wide program to help low-income residents in all neighborhoods, especially those who have been cited for code violations. Wheeling has a strong volunteer base, as demonstrated by the tremendous turnout to assist with flood cleanup earlier this summer. We know that the people of Wheeling care about each other and want to help improve their neighborhoods. Although an expanded effort is too much for our organization to lead, we hope that others will join with us to make this a reality for the residents of Wheeling.”
More volunteers are needed for the project, which must be completed by the end of September. Work can include yard cleanup, painting, drywall installation and minor plumbing repairs. Every volunteer is welcome, regardless of experience or skill level. Most jobs are conducted on Saturday mornings or weekday evenings (Monday-Thursday). This is not a long-term commitment – volunteers are welcome to serve for just a few hours. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up using this link: https://forms.gle/a7WjKA2cYo2VigCh8
Griffin continued, “We would like to thank all of the volunteers who have served with us so far. Their work is much appreciated by the homeowners. I would especially like to commend and thank Ken Sexton, who has taken time away from his own business to manage the projects. He has done a tremendous job, and we could not have done this without him. Additionally, we would like to thank Sharon David, former AmeriCorps member with Ritchietown Renaissance, Inc., who initiated this project and prepared the successful grant application.”
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller
Ritchietown Renaissance, Inc. is a tax-exempt non-profit based in South Wheeling. Founded in 2022, the organization is dedicated to the preservation of the historic resources and heritage of South Wheeling and on the neighborhood enhancement and improvement of the entire City of Wheeling. Their website is www.RTownRen.org.
