Mission Moment
Mason and Donna Gilbert retired after decades of helping others in the community. But after cancer and other health problems struck, they found themselves falling behind on home repairs. Their entry stairs had deteriorated to the point that they could no longer host their young granddaughter or other visitors. Donna worried daily about what might happen in the event of an emergency.
The couple tried to shore up the crumbling stairs, but after Donna slipped in between two of the steps, she’d had enough. “We’re not people that like to ask for help — we’re more the people that give the help,” she explains. But “I was not going to have anybody get hurt.” She’d seen various INHS projects in the community, so she went to the website and discovered the Minor Repair Program.
The program, which serves seniors, low-income families, and those with disabilities, rebuilt the steps. A special design with shorter stair heights allowed access while minimizing Donna’s arthritis pain.
“We have good sturdy steps, and they just look beautiful,” Donna says. “It matters a lot for our dignity.” Mason adds, “It was life or death for us. I don’t know how else you’d put it.”
Home Inspection Class: In-Person, May 14, 2026
