Every New Jersey resident is legally required to keep their homes and yards tidy to maintain the state’s clean and orderly roads.
However, not everyone can meet this standard. Some can’t afford regular upkeep like painting or mowing, while others simply can’t do it anymore due to age.
This was the case for Ann Glancy, an elderly educator who struggled to maintain her home and yard. Her pension barely covered her basic needs, leaving her unable to care for her property. The peeling paint and neglected yard made her home look abandoned.
With no family to help and no children to share her home, Ann was isolated. When neighbors Christina and Adam offered to help clean up, she initially refused. But after receiving a hefty fine she couldn’t afford, the community decided to step in anyway.
Friends and family joined forces, working all summer—mainly on weekends—to transform Ann’s home. They added new siding, repaired windows, fixed the porch, and refreshed the landscaping. For three months, the house went unrecognizable as it underwent its transformation.
Though reluctant at first, Ann grew close to her helpers, who now visit her regularly. Thanks to her neighbors’ generosity, Ann avoided a $10,000 expense, as they covered all costs themselves.
