Delia Apold has a new home at 501 13th Ave. SW.

A new-looking home, to be sure.

Austin Medical Center volunteers re-painted Apold's home Saturday morning.

"It's never been done before. This is the first time it has been painted since we moved here," she said.

Suzanne Schmidt coordinated the effort of the AMC volunteers.

The project was the result of the Mower County Chore Program and its coordinator Nancy Donahue.

"This was our 31st house-painting project since we started and it benefits so many people," said Donahue.

The program has 12-15 paid staff, who perform all sorts of valuable chores for eligible senior citizens.

Donahue also matches up organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America, with a specific project when possible.

One of the most ambitious chores is paining a senior citizen's home. Donahue has been able to match volunteers with paint-suppliers and the winner is the senior citizen.

Apold was the latest in a long line of satisfied senior citizens who have had their homes painted.

"The Early Risers Kiwanis Club were the first to paint a house for the Chore Program in 1989 and they have been a part of the program ever since. They will be painting the second house this summer," Donahue said.

Donahue's paid staff are kept busy throughout the year performing household chores that seniors can't perform, such as lawn care and other tasks.

That's why Donahue needs the assistance of volunteers and generous businesses, who supply the paint.

"The AMC crew included employees and their spouses and friends. We really appreciate what they did. This was their third house-painting project for the Chore program," Donahue said.

Apold, 89, is the widow of Willard B. Apold, retired from delivering the Austin Daily Herald until she was 80 years old.

Her green house is located at the corner of Fourth Street and 13th Avenue SW in a tree-shaded lot.

The AMC crew used brushes, rollers and sponges to repaint the cedar shake shingle-sided house its original green color.

Houses chosen for the Chore Painting projects are selected specifically for the ease in which they can be painted by volunteers.

Apold's home fit that description: a one-story home with an attached garage.

"They're doing a wonderful job," she said at mid-morning during the project. "It's going to look so great. I really appreciate what the AMC volunteers are doing and thank Mrs. Donahue for the Chore Program's help."

The program helps defray expenses with grants from the Mower County United Way Inc. and Southeast Minnesota Area Agency on Aging.

Seniors are expected to pay what they can afford for the regular projects performed by Chore Program staff during the year.

Any senior citizens interested in obtaining the Mower County Chore Program assistance is asked to call Donahue at 433-8396 for more information.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com