LaVerne Leven-Berry worked in the carpet business her husband owned for 40 years. The business closed when her husband passed away in 2010 from lung cancer. LaVerne struggled to maintain what she had after the business closed. And, shortly after his death, LaVerne was also diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors removed a portion of her lung. Not one to be defeated, LaVerne fought back to health and now works as a home health aide, caring for two individuals.
LaVerne wishes to maintain the home they shared
LaVerne and her husband bought their Woodbridge home 38 years ago. She raised two sons in the home and now watches three of her grandchildren in the mornings. Somehow, LaVerne also manages to work more than 50 hours a week in the home healthcare business. Plus, she keeps an impeccably neat and tidy home and lawn. She feels that keeping the home properly is an important legacy to the tireless energy and effort her husband made in purchasing the home for her and their children and maintaining it all those years.
How Habitat will help
LaVerne called us to report that woodpeckers were pecking the siding on the home. Habitat sent a pest control expert to the site for an evaluation. It was determined that the paint may be peeling from the aluminum siding on its own. However, woodpeckers are definitely pecking holes into the woodstove chimney, which is shiny and apparently is very attractive to the birds. Habitat will treat the chimney with a product that should not be as attractive to the birds. The organization will also repaint the aluminum siding, replace a wooden fence that is in disrepair, replace a non-functioning water heater and will replace broken glass in a bay window.
We invite you to support LaVerne’s project through your donations and volunteer time. We’re looking forward to working with you!