Volunteers roll up their sleeves to help others

MONTROSE—About 1,200 volunteers braved rainy, chilly weather Saturday to help with the third annual Montrose ShareFest.

The day started at 7 a.m. at Centennial Plaza for many volunteers, warmed by donated coffee, juice and muffins. Others went directly to their assignments.

According to ShareFest chairman Doug Kiesewetter, there were 135 projects this year. They ranged from remodeling an airplane hanger at Montrose Regional Airport for Samaritan Aviation, which has mercy flights to New Guinea, Mexico and other locations, to building a bed ramp for an elderly woman’s dachsund.

Other projects included building a driveway at the House of Promise in Olathe; roofing houses, building porches and fences; painting; installing carpet and insulation; building handicapped ramps and making bathrooms and kitchens handicapped accessible. Volunteers re-glazed windows at Pomona School, changed oil and did maintenance on cars for a number of single moms at an apartment complex. The Montrose High School football team and Rocky Mountain International Academy students re-landscaped planters at Valley Manor Convalescent Home. Others cleaned, painted, installed carpet and fans at MADA and Christ’s Kitchen.

“The variety (of volunteers) is pretty astounding,” said Kiesewetter. Those who rolled up their sleeves included families, children, teenagers, individuals, a group of disabled adults from United Methodist Church, and retirees. Several ShareFest volunteers were “well into their 80s,” Kiesewetter said. Those who couldn’t swing a hammer baked muffins or helped with the blood, food and coat drives and answered phones. Volunteers come from Montrose-Olathe churches and the community.

At least half a dozen people who received assistance from ShareFest in previous years came forward as volunteers this year, Kiesewetter said. “They are in a better place and wanted to give back,” he said. “It really touched me.”

Among the volunteers was motivational speaker Ben McLeish of Desire Street Ministries, who has worked on home demolition and renovation in New Orleans’ 9th Ward since Hurricane Katrina hit. He spoke at an interdenominational celebration for ShareFest participants at the Montrose Pavilion Sunday.

About 25 percent of the projects were for the Hispanic community, Kiesewetter said. Door hangers printed in English and Spanish helped publicize the event, designed to serve elderly, disabled, underprivileged and others in the community needing assistance.

Approximately 440 coats were donated at the drive; about 350 people tried them on at racks set up in Centennial Plaza and took them home. The remaining coats will be taken to area shelters.

 “I got particular pleasure out of watching people pick up the coats,” Kiesewetter said. “They were nice quality, in good condition.” People’s faces lit up, he said. “They were thrilled.”

The food drive brought in about 1,800 pounds of food, which will go to Sharing Ministries, Kiesewetter said. About 25 units of blood were donated.

Approximately 25 local businesses contributed lumber, hardware, paint, concrete, gravel and other materials for projects. “Local merchants were very generous,” Kiesewetter said.

ShareFest started about 10 years ago in Little Rock, Ark. It has spread to other cities around the country including Montrose. For more information call 240-1943 or check online at www.sharefestmontrose.com