Restoring Safety and Hope Through Community Action: May 29 – June 2

Background: The Bigjoe Family's Challenges

The Bigjoe family, neighbors living in Oregon City, are on a fixed income and face physical and financial challenges. Mrs. Bigjoe, in particular, has serious mobility issues, and their home had become unsafe for daily movement. The front landing had loose handrails, decaying wood, and narrow stair treads that increased the risk of entering or exiting the home. The back deck was structurally unsound with rotting wood, posing another safety hazard.

A Community United: Catalyst and Volunteers Step In

Catalyst and a community of volunteers intervened to help. The team removed and replaced both the front and back decks. While one crew dismantled the back deck, another built the front deck to ensure the Bigjoes had safe access throughout the project. The result is a sturdy, spacious, and safe set of decks that will allow Mrs. Bigjoe to move around her home more easily.

The Power of Volunteerism

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers who gave their time, energy, and hearts to this project. Over four days, they collectively served 311 hours—hours filled with compassion, hard work, and unity—to restore safety and peace of mind for the Bigjoe family.

Project Stats and Partners:

Number of Volunteers - 47

Eastridge Church

Shepherd's Door

Home Depot (Oregon City) Donated a portion of the building supplies

Project photos