The United Way’s Labor of Love is seeking house captains and volunteers as it enters its 30th year of helping low-income homeowners Oct. 2.

Volunteers have repaired 888 homes in the 30 years since Labor of Love started in Ottawa and the Planning Team under the leadership of Bill Cairns, Brian Lacke and John Levy have been developing work plans for 27 homes Labor of Love is hoping to help out.

Labor of Love is the largest 1-day community volunteer effort to repair, restore and winterize homes owned and occupied by local senior citizens, veterans, people with disabilities and low-income families. The plan is to have hundreds of community volunteers unite and fan out across the local community to provide free home repair services to neighbors in need and organizers are seeking skilled and unskilled volunteers to help perform small miracles for deserving homeowners who cannot do the work themselves and do not have the means to hire out the work.

Anyone age 14 or older can volunteer. Workers and at least one house captain are needed at every home. House captains provide team leadership and home project coordination. Captains will meet at 5 p.m. Sept. 14 and 20 to select homes and coordinate plans for the work. Anyone interested in being a captain can call the United Way at 815-434-4003.

Skilled labor, building trades and contractors will handle the most challenging aspects and provide expertise, enabling volunteers of all levels to pitch in and help.

There is a need for 25 house captains, as well as all-around handy men and women, licensed roofers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, cement finishers, HVAC, flooring, siding and tree service professionals and this year’s program needs additional licensed plumbers to help with 11 homes.

“Some of the repairs seem small, such as installing grab bars so an elderly person can safely get in and out of the bathtub,” Cairns said. “Other repairs may involve extreme situations where individuals are living with unsafe electricity or an inoperable heating system. All repairs dramatically impact the lives of the recipient.”

Homeowners receiving assistance live in Ottawa, Marseilles, Seneca and Wedron, and applicants’ ages vary from 41 to 91.

“In addition to gifts of time and ‘sweat equity,’ Labor of Love is seeking the community’s financial support,” Lacke said. “We need your help! While we are all challenged with the expense of maintaining our homes, no one struggles more than the low-income homeowner. More and more low-income older adults and families are placed in the position of choosing between vital necessities, such as medicine or making a utility payment; verses stopping a roof from leaking or restoring malfunctioning plumbing.”

Contributions can be mailed or delivered to Labor of Love, c/o United Way of Eastern La Salle County, 601 State St. Ottawa.

To volunteer or learn about Labor of Love, call United Way at 815-434-4003. Individuals interested in serving as a house captain, contact United Way Executive Director Shelli Ocepek before the Sept. 14 house captain meeting.