Robert Waples caught the help-thy-neighbor bug while working in his neighborhood just south of Lake Osborne.
Waples, who serves as president of the Residents of Lake Osborne Heights Neighborhood Association, learned of a single woman living alone after her parents died. A car crash had left her disabled. Trash was beginning to stack up inside her house.
Waples, a computer whiz, used e-mail blasts to rally volunteers to help clean the woman's house on weekends.
After several weekends of volunteer attention, Waples said, the woman's house was clean. And her outlook on life had improved.
"We watched her go from not caring to wanting her life back," Waples said.
The experience led the former hotel manager to organize more volunteers to help Lake Worth homeowners.
About 200 volunteers have helped on home repair projects around the city. Volunteers come from neighborhoods, churches and high schools throughout Palm Beach County.
Waples plans to take his volunteer coordination efforts to a new level this year by forming the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project and applying for nonprofit status with the Internal Revenue Service. He hopes to strengthen the volunteer network in Lake Worth and branch out to other locations.
Helping others comes naturally to Waples. While growing up in Central Florida, he visited the elderly, drove buses, taught Sunday school and organized fund-raisers for the First Baptist Church of Frostproof.
When he's not busy organizing volunteers, Waples serves on Lake Worth's Planning & Zoning Board and works as the clubhouse coordinator for the Cascades community in Boynton Beach.
For more information on volunteering to help fix up homes through the Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project, call Waples at (561) 909-8708 or go to www.volunteerpalmbeach.blogspot.com.
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What are your hobbies?
'My animals, dogs, cats, birds and fish and my garden.'
Who would you like to have dinner with?
'Bill Clinton. He was one of the most effective presidents we've had in a very long time.'
If you could switch jobs with anyone, who would it be?
'Bill Gates. Because of his charitable work. It really comes from the heart.'
Who is your hero or someone who has inspired you?
'Bryan Adams (the Canadian rock singer/songwriter).'
What event changed your life the most?
'My mother passing. I was 15. I was really shy. I just burst onto the scene after that.'
If you were stranded on a desert island and could have only three things, what would they be?
'A laptop with satellite service, food and water.'
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
What sort of background checks does this person run on the volunteers? We can't have any person walking in and out of a disabled person's home.
Why use spam as a means of communication?
A "computer whiz" should understand the power of Twitter and Facebook. Spam is used by scam-artists and some lady from Nigeria with free money.
Are the home repairs permitted and handled by licensed professionals?
I know everyone has to start somewhere, but this appears to be amateur.
ConvictedFelon
Since my mother is the women Robert started with, I can honestly say that yes, everyone has to start somewhere. He is the ONLY one that actually did anything for my mother. State organizations made promise after promise, but then they all 'got investigated' and shut down. Robert is struggling now to find contractors to complete the job. To be honest, I wouldn't care as long as it got done. But it has to be contractors and permits have to be pulled.
pusscat
Robert, thank you so much for pulling everyone together. I am a neighbor of the women that was helped. This has been a joint effort with a lot of wonderful volunteers.Again, thanks to all of the DOERS who chose to make a difference.When neighbors help neighbors,and even other neighborhoods in the area, we will all have a better place to live.Convicted,I hope that you can come out and help on our next job. Getting out in the fresh air will help clear away the cobwebs.
Kathy
Robert Waples is daily making Lake Worth an even better place to live. He has a heart that is golden, and he puts feet on his prayers by being the change he wants to see in his community. He is a dream neighbor, and a great president for our association. I am excited to be a aprt of NHNP, and am proud to be a freind and neighbor of his.
Taylor Stevens
Thank you all for such kind comments. Its takes all of us working together to make a difference and I am the one who feels blessed to have such great people to share these wonderful events with.
Please note that the email blasts are to people who have signed up to be volunteers and have signed appropriate paper work not random....so yes there are checks and balances and we are partnered with many Charities and contractors that are fully licensed....It was a good question so thank you.
Robert Waples
Robert Waples is the BEST! A caring soul and I am proud to call him "friend." Thanks for all you do for everyone. I have never seen anyone work so hard and be totally selfless.
Lynn Anderson
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