Algiers resident John Carter couldn’t be happier to see the flurry of activity surrounding the home that has been in his family for generations.

Carter’€™s house is getting a face lift courtesy of Rebuilding Together New Orleans volunteers participating in the 25th anniversary October Build event.

A team from the Home Depot converged on Carter’€™s home on October 8 for a day of hard work.

While one group of volunteers painted the side of the house, which Carter jokingly describes as a “single double,” another group worked on the back steps, constructing a sturdy handrail and laying a concrete step flush with the surrounding yard.

Carter, a disabled veteran who served in Hamburg, Germany, and at Fort Bliss, has nine children and 10 grandchildren.

“It’€™s kept me working my whole life,”€ he said. “€œBut that’s what life’™s all about.”

When Carter saw the great results the RTNO team was able to achieve a couple of years ago when another home in his neighborhood was selected as an October Build house, he knew he wanted to get involved with the program.

Watching the home once owned by his grandmother, Essie Ricard, receive a much needed boost brought a mix of emotions to the surface for Carter.

“It’€™s a blessing,” he said. “€œWhat is happening here is just a blessing. I really mean that.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see October Build volunteers in action.

Click here to view the gallery on Flickr. All photos by Liz Jurey.

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