These volunteers say they are concerned that all of our citizens have a right to safe and livable housing. &dquo;We are at the point where compassion and action meet,&dquo; a spokesperson said. &dquo;We are impressed that so many people are stepping forward to help when they learn of such needs in our own backyard.&dquo;

The Foothills Housing Partnership has brought together many people from local churches, the Thermal Belt Outreach, the Council on Aging, the Department of Social Services, Isothermal Planning and Development Commission, Polk County Office of Economic Development Commission, Habitat for Humanity, the Tryon Fine Arts Center, the Tryon Youth Center, the Thermal Belt Ministerial Association, the Polk Baptist Association, the Western North Carolina Baptist Network and the sponsorship of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina.

&dquo;This must be a worthy challenge for so many of our service organizations to respond as they have,&dquo; says the organization. &dquo;We are fortunate to have volunteers&bsp; from churches aqcross the region who are planning to bring teams of workers.&dquo;

The Thermal Belt Outreach and the Council on Aging have become the application point where those in need of help begin the process to be identified for assistance. Teams of skilled volunteers visit each sight and assess what is needed to make the home safe and livable. If the owner of the home approves of the volunteer labor addressing the problem, the project is assigned to teams of volunteers to complete the task.

Individuals and teams of workers are welcome to join in this challenging service to some of the community&squo;s citizens who own their home but cannot afford to make needed emergency repairs.

Interested volunteers can contact the Foothills Housing Partnership office on the Tryon Fine Arts Center campus each morning from 10 a.m. to noon or call 864-423-4332 to learn about ways you can help.