Homeowner: Frances Steck

Age: 85

Council District: 8

House location: Oxon Hill

About the homeowner: A widow, Mrs. Steck has lived in her home for thirty-seven years. She has difficulty hearing, walks with a cane because of her arthritis and has had a triple bypass. Mrs. Steck walked her application and that of her neighbor, Mrs. Gault, into our offices because the neighbor was too sick to come. Dressed brilliantly in purple, she delivered both applications with a smile. Noticing she was a bit unsteady, our director walked her back to the car. Mrs. Steck got into her car and then climbed back out again to thank the director with a hug for walking her to the car.

Their greatest concern: Mrs. Steck would like to have her broken picture window fixed, her windows washed and a new kitchen faucet. The shutters on the front of the house have broken off, too.

What we found: The upstairs bathroom has leaked into the downstairs bathroom. The window air conditioner is not sealed in any way. The first level bedroom has become full of clothes and pantry items that need organization to make the bedroom livable. Mrs. Steck has an abundance of clutter, which may indicate the beginnings of hoarding. She does have a hole in her front window and needs some plumbing repair in the bath and a faucet in the kitchen. Both an exterior and interior cleanup is needed. Several windows need to be repaired and she needs some landscaping. This house has been adopted by Timberlake Homes.

House Captain: Paula Morgan

Her Volunteer Experience: For two years Paula Morgan has been a tireless supporter of Christmas in April. She has been a house captain twice and has served on the House Selection Committee and the Golf Committee, our major fundraiser.

Her Reaction to her Homeowner: We have two elderly ladies that we will be helping this year. They happen to be very good friends and neighbors. Both of our homeowners this year are disabled. The disability of the homeowners accompanied with their ages prohibits them from maintaining the repairs on their homes.

Her Comments on Christmas in April: The Christmas in April program is enabling both homeowners the opportunity to stay in the house they have been in for years rather than moving on to an assisted living arrangement.

In her day job, Ms Morgan serves as Chief Financial Officer of Timberlake Homes.