Rotary Pioneers Senior Charity Project

Patti Douglas, who lives on Circle Drive in Rohnert Park, hasn't smelled the abrasive waft of bleach for two years — normally she hates it. But Saturday, when 20 volunteers showed up to clean her house, she welcomed it.

"I haven't cleaned my house in two years," says Douglas. "I can't afford to pay someone to do it, and I can't do it myself."

Douglas, 64, needs a wheelchair to get around. It's been that way since a drunk driver in a semi truck hit ran into her from behind while stopped at a red light in 2009.

"The accident broke my neck," Douglas said, as more than a dozen volunteers scrubbed bathroom toilets, weeded her back yard and cleaned the kitchen. "The hardest part is not being able to take care of my own home."

Rotarians from the two local clubs — the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati and the Rotary Club of Rancho Cotati — knew Douglas needed help. So when Paula Reinhold, a rotarian, launched her senior home repair project called Rotaries Helping Hands, it was just a matter of gathering volunteers who didn't mind getting dirty.

"I'm very pleased," Reinhold says. "I felt like we really made a difference Saturday, especially on Circle Drive."

The job took 20 volunteers cleaning for three hours, Reinhold said. In addition, six more volunteers showed up to help with two other homes, one on Parkway Drive an one on Circulo Nuevo.

It's not just rotarians who are helping — the Rohnert Park-Cotati Chapter of Realtors has donated manpower and $1,000 for the project, and Reinold says she's reaching out to local businesses for help.

"So many seniors don't have the support around them that they need," Reinhold says.

Rotary is seeking local seniors in Rohnert Park or Cotati who need help with basic home repairs. Volunteers, who just finished their first work day, are aiming to go out and help local seniors monthly, on the third Saturday of the month. The next work day is scheduled for Oct. 15. If you know anyone in need of help, email angela.hart@patch.com, pauladee@cds1.net or call Paula Reinhold at 707-490-7322.