On Saturday June 9 the Dyess We Care Team made a return visit to the Alameda neighborhood in a big way. With a record setting 127 volunteers in one day, the WCT tackled two homes at the same time. The projects were both lead by first time team leaders E3 Abraham Carrillo with the 7 CMS and E3 Trevor Bixby with the 7 EMS. This was not only their first WCT project as a team leader, but it was also their very first WCT project as they have both only been in Abilene for about one month! Now that is what we call getting involved with your community.

These were the 4th and 5th homes to be painted by the WCT in the Alameda area. The Alameda projects are being funded by the generous donations from Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Abilene. Star Dodge has been one of the biggest supporters of the Dyess We Care Team since it’s very beginning. This special project funding is allowing the WCT to utilize the other funds they raise throughout the year to provide assistance to other families in need. This is allowing the WCT to reach out and provide assistance to more families in Abilene and the surrounding Big Country than they normally would. The biggest challenge is finding the time to try and fulfill all of the request received.

Any WCT house painting project usually draws the attention from the surrounding neighbors and this day proved to be no different as various people drove by to thank the young Airman not only for what they do for our country but to also thank them all they do for the community. There were even a few asking how to get on the WCT list to have their home painted. However there was one additional surprise as some of the children in the neighborhood got together and drew pictures to present to the WCT just to say thanks fro what they are doing to help improve their neighborhood. That just made all of the hard work in the Texas heat worth all of the effort. The drawings were proudly displayed in the photo above by some of the WCT volunteers. What more can you ask for than to receive such a special gift from the children of the neighborhood. Awesome!

Both projects not only involved scraping and painting the wood but also painting the brick a new color as well. The photos below are the before and afters of the two homes completed in one day, on the same day! This is what you can accomplish when you have over 100 volunteers show up for a project. Simply amazing!