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Washington Holiday Angels: Laurie Zeiszler
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - When Laurie Zeiszler first started volunteering at Project Mend-A-House more than a year ago, the other volunteers didn’t quite know what to do with her.
“Our volunteer base is mostly men, so when she first started they kind of just looked at her,” said the nonprofit’s executive director, Andrea Saccoccia. “They thought there’s no way this woman can do any of this stuff, and today she’s one of our most exceptional volunteers.”
Project Mend-A-House repairs homes for the disabled, elderly and low-income families in Prince William County, the city of Manassas and Manassas Park. Zeiszler, 52, joined the group after a long career in education. But rather than spend her time at an education-focused nonprofit, she decided to put her “handywoman” skills to work instead.
“My dad and his dad were handymen,” said the Stafford County resident. “So from the get-go, I grew up with it.”
Zeiszler spends about six hours a day, five days a week, doing tasks ranging from installing windows and wheelchair ramps to doing roofing and kitchen repairs. But it’s more than her do-it-yourself skills that have made her an asset to Project Mend-A-House, Saccoccia said. Zeiszler has also befriended many of her clients and spends extra hours helping them with other needs.
“I like to get to know the people we’re working with,” Zeiszler said.
Like her friend Holly Frisch, Zeiszler installed an intercom and safety gates in the 55-year-old’s home last November, and since then, Zeiszler has spent many nonhome-repair-related hours with Frisch.
“We ended up being extremely great friends,” Zeiszler said. “We had her over for Thanksgiving and we have girls’ days and I take her out shopping.”
Blind since birth, Frisch met Zeiszler just as she was getting used to a new guide dog.
“About a year ago I had to retire my German Shepherd,” Frisch said. “It was a very difficult transition and one of the best things that happened in the new year was Laurie and her husband came to visit. The second they came in I knew they weren’t just the people who were there to fix the house. I liked them right away. ... I can’t say enough good things about Laurie.”
Now in her second holiday season with Project Mend-A-House — one of the most crucial times for home repairs as temperatures drop — Zeiszler said she has no plans to slow down. “Just knowing that I’m helping someone makes it worthwhile.”
