Working with WARM

The Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM) has been taking action to address substandard housing since 1996, when volunteers from across the region came together to assist homeowners after hurricanes Bertha and Fran.

What they learned is that much of the damage predated the storms and the homeowners just didn’t have the resources for costly repairs. This put the homeowners at risk for home accidents, fires, and displacement due to the condition of their home.

Now, WARM brings together volunteers and sponsors to make urgent repairs and accessibility upgrades for low-income homeowners in Brunswick, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender Counties.

Homeowner Dr. Daniel Ruth has lunch every day at the Brunswick Center at Southport. Here he shows the herb plants that the Sacred Heart youth faith forma on group made for him. Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Southport donates to Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM), and this Sacred Heart crew repaired flooring and put up a hand railing on the steps. The rebuild was funded by First Ci zens Bank.

Many of the homeowners served are elderly or people with disabilities. To qualify for services, the home must be owner-occupied, and the total household income must fall at or below 50 percent of the county’s median income. A home assessment is conducted to identify risks to safety, health, and independence.

WARM has been very active in Brunswick County. They completed nearly 50 rebuilds in the county in 2021 and there are still close to 30 homeowners in the county on WARM’s waiting list.

Disasters disproportionately impact the poor since homes in disrepair suffer more damage. As the area continues to recover from

The Sacred Heart crew tries to help with WARM projects once a month. From le are Richard Price, Karl Adlon, Pat Naughton, Dave Vashen, and Devin Keenan.

2018’s Hurricane Florence, WARM has helped more than 250 homeowners with damage from that storm across their five-county service area.

Volunteers come from all over the country to help others through WARM, but you don’t have to travel far to help. Opportunities to volunteer are available Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No construction experience is necessary! An on-site supervisor guides volunteers through each task.

Volunteers are also needed to take photographs, provide office help, and deliver snacks. Volunteering not only benefits the homeowner, it is also very rewarding.

Dave Vahsen volunteers for WARM through Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

“The camaraderie of working with others for a good cause is always a welcome nourishment for the soul,” Vahsen says. “To see the gratitude in the eyes of the recipient speaks volumes beyond any words of gratitude. The whole process is a win for volunteers and recipients.”

For more information, visit the WARM website at warmnc.org