SOS Announces July 23rd Make it Happen

[iloveionia]

First the community came together for Miss Maggie, and then for Kenneth on E. 9th, and now. . . . .drum roll please. . . . . Preservation SOS announces it's July Make it Happen for Saturday, July 23, 2011.

More details, including the recipient of our preservation project will be announced at the end of June.

So, mark your calendar, July 23rd, July 23rd, July 23rd. 
Love to all.

[Noone]

Looking forward to it.

[sheclown]

I hear its going to be a catered affair.  Springfield's master cupcake creators.

[iloveionia]

^^ One reason this date was selected was because these master cupcake creators were available!!!

[iloveionia]

The recipient will be notified in less than 2 weeks!!!  I look forward to sharing with everyone about this very special Springfield resident.  Have you marked your calendar for July 23rd?  We look forward to seeing you.

[Springfielder]

I believe that the recipient and their 'story' will reflect just why they've been selected, and helping them will be paying it forward....

[iloveionia]

http://springfield.firstcoastnews.com/news/community-spirit/neighbors-helping-neighbors-project-preservation/55344

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=211013688934038


Oscar, who resides on the east 400 block of 3rd Street will be our July 23rd recipient of Preservation SOSs Make it Happen Project.  Oscar was a Springfield resident prior to our neighborhood being designated as historic.  He purchased his humble home on E. 3rd in the early 80s and has resided there for nearly 30 years. 

Oscar’s home was nominated by his neighbors John and Monica for our project.  John and I went back and forth several times via email and in one he describes why Oscar is deserving of this neighborhood project:  “He is literally grateful for anything.  He is such a sweet guy.  Even with all the bad that has happened to him, he is the most cheerful person you will meet.  He always looks on the bright side of life.  His house is in desperate need of work.  He does his best with limited funds and he takes such good care of Oscar Jr.  He is really a good Dad.”   

Well, we certainly agree.  Gloria, John, Monica, James (neighbor,) and I stopped by Oscar’s house after the heavy rain (and thankfully cooler weather,) and asked him if we could give him some neighborly love; paint and repair the exterior and landscape his yard.  He didn’t hesitate and said he has wanted for some time his house to be fixed so it looked nice like everyone else’s on the block.   

Oscar is a former truck driver, welder, boat captain, and construction worker.  Oscar Jr. is the oldest child who Oscar raised on his own, together they live along with (on occasion,) Oscars’s 4 grandchildren who stop by and spend time.  He divorced early (and I mean early,) on in his marriage, raising his 3 children and his ex-wife’s 2 children all by himself.  Oscar Jr. has special needs, but in conversation with Oscar and his son, it is hard to tell.  Oscar Jr. has a job, helps around the house (he does the laundry, but doesn’t like the folding part so he leaves them on top of the dryer,) and seems to schedule his day around Jeopardy and chocolate ice cream; his favorites.  He was shy (which apparently is unusual for Oscar Jr.) and is adored by the neighbors on his block and by those who know him. 

Back in the 80s when Oscar purchased, like all of the “old-timers” of the hood say, it was pretty scary.  He states that he was the ONLY resident on his block.  No one else lived there and all the houses were vacant.  “People vanished.  Moved out.”  On the corner of Walnut and 3rd the commercial buildings had bars which produced a lot of negative foot traffic, drugs, and prostitution.  He talks about shooing them off his brick wall as they would loiter and cause problems on his street.  Oscar said he “did what he wanted then.”  He reminisced about the goats and pigs he had!!!  That he intended on eating the goat and the pig but they followed the kids everywhere and they become part of the family and he couldn’t kill them to eat.  Along with those farm animals, they had dogs but no longer have their own pets.  Well, technically speaking anyway, “Monkey” is John and Monica’s cat (only sort of though,) as Monkey adores Oscar Jr. and Oscar Jr. adores Monkey; thinking it must have something to do with the tuna Oscar feeds Monkey!  Oscar Sr. talks about the “tremendous upgrades” in the last 10 years in Springfield.  How there aren’t rowdy people anymore and people are friendly.  He states there “ain’t too much about it (Springfield,) I don’t like.”

John and Monica have been kind neighbors and have helped with termite tenting and roofing repairs, and John often mows his yard. Oscar is 70 years old and has had 5 operations for his heart, including open heart surgery and the insertion of 4 stints.  But despite this, he will mow John’s yard as a return favor and is extremely active in his church (he is a Deacon) at West Saint Mark on State Street, their Sunday’s are spent at the church where Oscar Jr. plays the drums!!!

I am repeatedly humbled by the goodness within people.  I am glad to meet and know people who continually do good for others without the expectation of something in return.  They just do it because it is the right thing to do.  We need more people like this in our world.  Oscar is a good man and is deserving of this community project.  I already feel good inside and it is not even July 23rd yet!!!  A great big shout out to the folks on the 400 block of E. 3rd who are supportive of one another no matter what they have or don’t have; it’s an inclusionary block that looks out for one another. 

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” â€" Winston Churchill 



sheclown: can you help a gal out and post the 2 photos?

[fsujax]

my next door neighbors! Oscar and Oscar Jr are so deserving of this. Cant wait!

[sheclown]

And they were delighted by the news!

[sheclown]

[Springfielder]

Given that I already knew they were selected, and had read the nominating email...I couldn't wait until it was announced...but seeing the joy on their faces...just brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps. This is what it's all about, neighbors helping neighbors, just because you can.

[Timkin]

You all are wonderful people.  Kudos to your group!!!!!

[Springfielder]

You all are wonderful people.  Kudos to your group!!!!!

Tim, if it were possible, we would....but that's totally out of our realm

[sheclown]

A great big shout out to the folks on the 400 block of E. 3rd who are supportive of one another no matter what they have or don’t have; it’s an inclusionary block that looks out for one another. 

This is truly a remarkable group of people.  We are looking forward to working with Oscar and his neighbors.

[avs]

Preservation SOS is currently under the umbrella of their friends at Sustainable Springfield, and as a 501 (3) (c) they can provide tax deductible receipts for your donations.

Any donations for this event can be made out to Sustainable Springfield and mailed to: 320 E 9th Street 32206 or send us an email at SustainableSpringfield@yahoo.com

Please write PSOS in the check memo so your donation gets earmarked for this event.  We are happy to provide a tax deductible receipt.