Program Background

Hearts and Hammers is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 by  former Peace Corps Volunteer, Bob Walker. From one home painted by twenty-four volunteers the first year, the project has grown to three thousand volunteers who have refurbished close to a thousand homes.

A seven member board of directors and a forty-plus member council coordinate the workings of this all volunteer group. The mission of Hearts and Hammers is to repair the homes of low income homeowners, most of who are elderly and many of whom are disabled.   City building inspectors identify homes needing repairs. The homeowners are qualified through the People Helping People section of the Dallas City Department of Housing and Neighborhood Services. Hearts and Hammers then recruits volunteer teams through businesses, churches, civic groups and schools to work on the homes.

Once teams have been organized, Hearts and Hammers provides guidance to team captains in organizing volunteers and working on the homes. The repairs weatherize and beautify the home and bring many of the buildings up to city code. Hearts and Hammers determines the materials needed, what professional assistance is needed, then orders and warehouses materials. Some materials are donated, some funds come from personal and business donations and some funds come from the city of Dallas. The Hearts and Hammers Planning Council members coordinate all activities on project days and provide support throughout the year to team captains. The project happens on two Saturdays once a year, usually in the fall.

Many of the original Returned Peace Corps Volunteers are still participating. Bob Walker has moved to Minneapolis and now organizes the Twin Cities Hearts and Hammers project. It continues to be a rewarding project for everyone involved. For more information on the Twin Cities chapter, please go to this website.

Awards

For their efforts, Hearts and Hammers has received the following awards and recognition: