South Bend Men Work at Family Center

Thirteen men representing the St. Joseph Valley Association of Wabash Men (SJVAWM) in the South Bend area volunteered at the Families First Center on October 14, 2006, for the second annual Wabash Day. 

Volunteers included Mike Arnold, Carl Horneman, Peter Horvath, Mark Manchak, David Matsey, Michael Matsey, Roland Morin, John Mynsberge, Joshua Neff, Paul Tipps, Peter Trybula, Austin Trybula (Peter's son and current student at Anderson University) and Roger Senkbeil.

The volunteers power-washed the fence surrounding the Families First Center, replaced a fence post, built a landscape-timber border in a bed outside the Center, laid a fabric barrier and landscape rock in the bed, painted the porch railing, and replaced light bulbs in the parking area.  The Families First Center is an organization dedicated to providing children in foster care with a safe, supervised and home-like setting in which they can meet regularly with their parents.  The group began work about 9 am and was finished around 1:30 pm.

The SJVAWM decided to work with the Families First Center because of Peter Trybula's involvement as board president.  He was aware of work that needed to be done in order to make the Center a safer and more welcoming environment for foster children and their families.