The death of David Grochowski three years ago sent his parents and siblings into a tail spin they’ve still not fully recovered from.

But the Acts of Kindness (AOK) team from the Aldergrove Seventh-Day Adventist Church hope last week’s announcement will turn that all around for the family.

During a visit to the Grochowski’s Aldergrove home late Thursday, Pastor Mike Dauncey and some of the AOK team told the teary-eyed family members they’d been selected as recipients of the 2011 Extreme Home Repair.

“They’ve had a huge loss, and maybe this is something that can give them a shot in the arm and lift them up,” Dauncey told the Langley Advance, extending a plea to anyone interested in helping.

They were told that on May 13, hundreds of volunteers will converge on their 267A Street home, and spend the next 10 days repairing and upgrading the dilapidated 1970s two-storey structure.

“They’re a wonderful family whose lives were torn apart with the death of their son David,” said long-time project member Lorne Brownmiller, who explained that 18-year-old David was killed in a car accident in October 2007.

The loss devastated his father Walt, mother Terry, and his five siblings – four of whom still live at home. And even though they were in the midst of home renovations at the time of David’s death, little has been done on that project or many others since.

“Honestly, they’re home is in disrepair… It needs some help,” Brownmiller said, elaborating that the kitchen, bath, floors, deck, windows, insulation, roofing, heating system, landscape, and other aspects of the home are all under consideration in what will be one of the most intense projects in the AOK home repair’s seven-year history.

The Grochowski family was one of seven nominated, six from Aldergrove and one from Idaho (out of the AOK area).

The project runs May 13-23. The family is vacated from the home for the duration, and volunteers conclude with a ceremonial reveal the last day.

“We really feel we can help them get a leg up,” said Dauncey.

The AOK is holding a volunteer job fair for the makeover on Saturday, April 16, 1 p.m. at the Adventist church (26245 28th Ave.)

In the meantime, anyone interested in donating products, services, or time to the project can also email: pastordauncey@gmail.com, or call the church at 604-856-5830, ext. 104.

rhooper@langleyadvance.com

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