Volunteers complete 22 home projects for Fairbanks Elders

Volunteers finished 22 yard, home and cleanup projects for Alaska Native Elders in Fairbanks in a single day on July 13. More than 50 people did the work.

The projects ranged from yardwork and landscaping to home maintenance and cleanup, according to Tanana Chiefs Conference, which hosted the second annual Fairbanks Elders Day of Caring.

Volunteers came from TCC, Doyon, Limited, Doyon Foundation, Fairbanks Native Association, Denakkanaaga, Interior Regional Housing Authority, KeyBank, IBEW Local 1547, and the offices of the Fairbanks mayor and the Fairbanks North Star Borough mayor.

Eligibility was limited to Elders age 65 or older who are TCC beneficiaries or Doyon shareholders and live within the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Applications went through a lottery. Alaska News previously covered the live drawing, which selected 20 Elders across three project tiers and did not meet the full demand.

The day was not only labor. "Many volunteers spent time visiting with the Elders they served," TCC said, "sharing conversations, stories, and laughter throughout the day."

TCC said it is now supporting Tribes that want to host their own community-led Elders Day of Caring events across the region.

The account of the day comes from TCC's own newsletter. No Elder who received help is quoted in it.