Dennis and Patti
Dennis Becker trims while his wife Patti Becker uses the mower on a northwest Cedar Rapids yard.
Down the block from a houseful of Cornell College student muckers, Dennis and Patti Becker tackled a northwest Cedar Rapids yard. It was the first time for Dennis Becker to put in some real time doing flood recovery, although his wife had done some gutting previously.
“We had a Saturday free and thought we’d help out,” Patti
Becker said.
Patti Becker mows at a northwest Cedar Rapids home.
Mattie Haynes
Mattie Haynes of Kansas City wore a mask and thick gloves.
Most of the other Cornell College students grabbed masks to wear.
Kenneth and Bonnie
AmeriCorps VISTA members Ann Davidson and Peyton Smith help Bonnie Keller gather supplies, including mask.
Bonnie Keller and her husband Kenneth Keller arrived from
Deep River with a mower loaded in the back of their pickup.
“It was a convenient time for us to get out before the crops
(had to be harvested). We wanted to help … and it was something we could do,”
Bonnie Keller said.
After receiving directions from AmeriCorps VISTA Larissa Norris and Terry Bergen from East Central Iowa United Way, the Kellers headed out to a northwest neighborhood.
Within two hours, the Kellers had completed two yards. But there was a slight glitch: After they completed one yard, they realized it wasn’t the proper address. They figured no big deal, as it needed to be done, and then set off to find their next assigned address.
