WATERLOO, Iowa — From the Heart took a breather last year.

But the program that bought hundreds of youth volunteers to
Waterloo to help low-income elderly and disabled residents fix up
their homes will be back in 2012.

“We just wanted to reorganize a little bit,” said Quentin Hart,
a city councilman who founded the program.

“Right now we’re expecting between 400 and 450 youth from around
the country who have signed up to attend,” Hart said. “The focus is
still on helping residents and supporting them.”

From the Heart: Waterloo Home Enhancement Project — as it is
officially known — helped repair 179 homes from 2007 through 2010
before taking 2011 off. Organizers say the project’s economic
impact during those four years exceeded $1 million.

Local officials work with Group Workcamps Inc. of Loveland,
Colo., which brings the young volunteers from church groups in many
other states to Waterloo to help do basic home repairs. Money is
raised for materials, and the teens and their adult supervisors
stay at Central Intermediate School while spending the week working
in town.

The volunteers are expected to be in Waterloo from July 15-21,
2012.

To be eligible, residents must either own or be buying their
home in Waterloo’s city limits; be unable to do the work themselves
due to physical or financial situations; and have no other means of
getting the work completed. Repairs could include porch and step
repair and limited construction; wheelchair ramps; interior and
exterior painting; weatherization and caulking; light carpentry and
siding repair.

Applications are available at Operation Threshold, 1535
Lafayette St. Completed applications are due by noon Jan. 27, 2012,
and will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Questions can be directed to Janet Wessels at the Waterloo
Housing Authority, 233-0201.

Hart is still raising matching funds, and he is looking for any
churches or other organizations that would be willing to sponsor
refreshments for the campers. Call him at 504-8072.