Volunteers repair homes for Decatur seniors during MLK event | Photo Galleries
DECATUR, Ga. — Community volunteers worked alongside professional tradespeople to provide free home maintenance and repairs to Decatur seniors Jan. 17-19 during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Service Project.
Volunteers tackled tasks including cleanup, painting, replacing rotted wood, weatherizing homes and repairing water damage. The project, which started in 2003, helps senior homeowners remain safely and comfortably in their homes.
Jay Lyle, left, and Kaleigh Emerson prime a bedroom for paint during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
House Captain Quandra Zellner poses with a paint roller during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
Dominique Harris moves a sheet of OSB during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
Volunteer Tony Sewell surveys exterior work that needs to be done on a home during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
Dominique Harris, front, and Eric Gogstad install a subfloor during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
Laura Bollman cuts in a corner during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2025. “This is such a great effort. It’s so great to be in the Solarium for that 15 minutes and seeing everyone come together,” Bollman said. (Volunteers meet at the Solarium and from there go to the various projects)
Volunteers Charlene Siza, left, and Dana Christensen smile after completing a successful toilet installation during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
Volunteers Matthew Tanner, left, and Theo Cadavid cut insulation to help weatherize a home during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
First-time volunteer Oto Ekpo helps paint a home’s kitchen during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026. “I already called my husband and said we’re doing this next year and bringing the kids,” Ekpo said.
Volunteer Brendan Gardes prepares a home’s crawlspace for weatherization during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
House Captain Doug Thompson, who has been involved with the project for the past 15-20 years, inspects work in a bathroom during the annual MLK Service Project in Decatur on Jan. 18, 2026.
link
