BY NICKI MAYO
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Before ‘Extreme Makeover Home Edition” several West Buffalo volunteers started working to restore a home devastated by a fire. Dewitt Street’s Gwendolyn McIver says she’ll never forget the day her house caught fire May 2, 2009.
“Everything got destroyed by the wet of the smoke damage. It’s like you have a frame of a house but there’s nothing left,” said a tearful McIver.
The fire ripped through the two-story home, displacing McIver, her daughter Falonda Smith, 34 and five grandchildren Perryaye Edrington,23, Uniqueka Pereira,18, Laauna Smith,15, Eaylonda Smith,10 and Keyshawn Littlejohn,5, out on the street. That’s when McIver’s extended family, the Dewitt Street community stepped in to help rebuild her home.
“There are holes in the roof. These have to be fixed. Somebody donated these windows and her grandson is trying to get them together,” said neighbor Rico Alequin pointing out damages in one of the bedrooms. He says Ms. Gwen acts as a community grandmother to many on Dewitt Street.
“Everybody tried to do a little something this block is pretty good. You know most people don’t have the time,” Alequin added. He runs an extension chord from his home to McIver’s to provide power as volunteers work on the house.
Electrician Dave Skinner worked to rewire the house. Auto Appletop donated a new ceiling and materials for several rooms. A1 Glass gave the family new windows.
“They [volunteers] came and did the windows for us. AmeriCorps did the doors. Home Depot came and brought some energy bulbs and some wood in case it could help with anything,” said McIver with a smile. She says her home is paid up but she can’t afford home owners insurance. McIver gets $600 a month through Social Security.
Dozens of neighbors and Buffalo area contractors have donated supplies and services in an effort to get McIver’s family back in the house before winter. Several volunteers around Dewitt Street have already helped out by repainting several walls and ceilings, but there’s still tons of work to be done. A soot covered sink and bath tub had to be ripped out of the bathroom and placed in the one of the upstairs bedrooms.
“We need roof. We need siding. We need gas lines done. After losing everything, you know I just believe in God and I know God will make a away,“ said Grandma Gwen.
To Contribute to the “McIver House Project”…
Gwendolyn ‘Grandma’ McIver Project
716-609-4656
26 Dewitt St.
Buffalo, NY 14213
