ET home to land on Daniel Island, volunteers needed


***image1***"ET" may land on Daniel Island in coming weeks.

This ET is not the "phone-home" creature of celluloid fame; it is home – a handsome cottage built on a mobile-home frame. ET stands for Elderly Transportable and, when completed, it will be donated to a deserving local family on Thomas Island.

The ET "home on wheels" concept is the brainchild of Pat Goss, executive director of United Methodist Relief Center (UMRC) of Mount Pleasant, and volunteer contractor Clarence Westendorf. Conceived as a way to minimize the cost of providing affordable housing, ETs have been built by Lowcountry volunteers since 1999. When someone dies or no longer needs an ET, it can be moved and used by someone else.

In coming weeks, Daniel Island community volunteers are invited to help build the two-bedroom, 12-by-56-foot house, which will be erected at Providence Baptist Church on Seven Farms Drive. Upon completion, the building will be moved onto property owned by Joseph "Josie" Shaw on Clements Ferry Road.

Shaw and his developmentally disabled daughter, Josephine, currently live in two tumbledown trailers that lack air conditioning, screens and proper utility hookups. The effort to help the family was born last summer when concerned citizens contacted community groups to raise money for a new home for the family.

An ET can be built for roughly $30,000. Financial contributors to the Shaw project include the Daniel Island Community Fund, Christ Our King Catholic Church of Mount Pleasant, St. Andrews Church of Mount Pleasant and Riesen Law Firm of North Charleston. A number of private donations were also received, according to Wando resident Kathy Thomas, who has been active in helping the family.

Goss spoke last week to Providence Baptist Church members, who have agreed to host the project and provide volunteer labor. She was scheduled to meet with Charleston city officials this week to secure building and zoning permits. If all goes smoothly, construction could begin in the next few weeks. Under optimal conditions, an ET can be built in 22 days, she said, noting that there are often unanticipated delays that extend the time it takes to finish the project.

***image2***"We would like you to come and volunteer when you can," Goss told the audience. "You don’t need any special skills, just a willingness to work."

That includes children, Goss said, noting that she’s had inexperienced 12-year-olds who became adept at doing soffit and fascia installation. She also plans to reach out to local contractors who might be willing to donate their expertise.

"The main reason we build ETs at churches is that it’s easier for the congregation to get to the site," Goss said. "Plus, it says to the community, ‘We’re here; we’re a mission.’ It gives the church an opportunity to come together and do something in your own backyard."

She said there are area churches that have built more than one ET because they find it to be such a dynamic experience. Some have added their own personal touches.

"If you choose to, you can furnish it," Goss said. "You can put blinds in it. Kids can save money and buy blinds. You can fill the cabinets with groceries. We’ve had people furnish rocking chairs with hand-painted Bible verses on them. I call it ‘Holy Spirit decorating" because, no matter what you do, it all just seems to go together."

All Daniel Island residents are invited to volunteer for the building project. For more information, call (843) 884-4860.

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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