Rebuild Jane’s Porch

We’re having a party!

Please join us for an “open porch” on July 15 from 2-4 pm to celebrate the porch’s completion!

120 N Washington St, Danville

Update 6/11/23 - The porch is finished! Please scroll down to “Updates” below!

Update 3/20/23 - Please scroll down to “Updates” below.

Update 2/14/23- Please scroll down to “UPDATES” below!

Update 1/28/23 - please scroll down to “UPDATES” below!!!!

Update 1/22!!!

We have some exciting news!

Thanks to the generosity of all of you, we’ve raised enough $$ for the first phase of the project!

The porch will be taken down this week and reframed, then the new roof and gutters will be installed along with a temporary floor. When this phase is done, the porch will be secure and waterproof, and Jane won’t have to worry about it falling down unexpectedly.

We’re still working on funding the second phase, which is permanent flooring, ceiling, lighting, etc - so please share with anyone who might be willing to help.

THANK YOU for making this happen!!! This first phase is the most expensive and the most difficult, so having it covered is a HUGE blessing!

Update! We have received new estimates from a contractor and additional donated labor. This lowers our goal to cover materials and labor to $15000!

This 100+ year old house belongs to our neighbor Jane. The house is one of Danville’s beautiful historic homes, which she has owned for over 20 years. Jane is 77 and still works full-time. We see her leave every morning before 7 and come home after dark. She lives here alone and entirely supports herself.

Over the last few years, weather and water have caused progressively worsening structural issues with the house’s beautiful front porch. In the past year, we’ve seen the sag deepen and holes open up. It’s now at the point that one bad storm or a big snowfall could bring the whole thing down. The porch floor has already collapsed. In spite of this, it’s still the best way for Jane to safely get in and out of her home because of the sloped, uneven ground to get to the back door.

Jane has struggled to keep up with the repairs on the porch, with quotes being as high as $40,000. Her strong work ethic hurts her here - because she works, she doesn’t qualify for social services programs or grants intended to help senior citizens with home repairs they can’t make themselves. On the flip side, she (like most of us) doesn’t make enough to pay cash for $40k in home repairs. Her homeowners insurance won’t cover it, either.

This is where we need your help!

We’re working on a plan to have her porch repaired, so it is structurally sound and a safe way for her to enter and exit her home. We’ve gotten commitments to have a good portion of the labor donated,

but need to raise approximately $20-25k to cover the cost of materials and the remaining labor.

Please help us support one of our neighbors by restoring her porch’s structural integrity and creating a safe, sound path for her to access her home!