Miracles still happen
It’s hard to put into words what happened in Nauck for the Jackson family—and for the St. Peter’s volunteers (and friends) who came together to make it happen. But I’ll try.
Years ago we called it Christmas in April, after a homeowner from Midland, Texas, described the transformation that way. Today it’s Rebuilding Together—nationally—and, for us, Rebuilding Together Arlington, Fairfax, Falls Church (RTAFF). The national workday is the last Saturday in April, but because that often conflicts with Shrine Mont, St. Peter’s schedules our project for the weekend before or after.
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, we gathered for another version of Christmas in April—our 35th year of participation.
The goal is simple: make a homeowner’s house a better, safer, healthier place to live. To be eligible, the homeowner must need repairs they cannot afford to do on their own.
This year’s home belongs to Erskine Jackson. A self-employed dump truck driver who also drove a snowplow in winter for DMV/Arlington, Mr. Jackson bought the house in Nauck in 1992 and, with his wife, raised five daughters there. After his wife’s death several years ago, Mr. Jackson developed Parkinson’s, making home safety—especially fall prevention—more important than ever.
His daughter, Ursala, works for Habitat for Humanity in Maryland. When she began looking for help for her dad, a co-worker suggested contacting RTAFF. Ursala filed an application, and Patti Klein—last year’s Campbell Award winner and RTAFF CEO—promptly secured approval for the project.
What do you mean by “miracle”? On April 18, we began the day with a prayer led by Associate Rector Corey Michael Irwin. Then the St. Peter’s team—assisted by friends of St. Peter’s—got to work:
Decluttered the home by removing items marked by the family from all three floors and placing them in a dumpster (or setting aside items for final family approval)
Replaced and installed a new washer and dryer
Replaced and installed a new basement sliding glass door (including an extra trip to Home Depot after the wrong-sized unit was delivered)
Repaired and reinstalled every kitchen drawer and cabinet that needed attention
Replaced the kitchen disposal, dishwasher, and stove (the refrigerator was the only working appliance)
Built and installed new window screens for the upstairs front rooms (new frames, new screening, and installation)
Cleaned the main upstairs bedroom
Repaired and replaced railings on the side steps
Removed dead shrubs and replanted with azaleas, dogwoods (away from the house), hostas, and refreshed the rock beds protecting the plantings
Constructed a walker-friendly ramp so Mr. Jackson can get from the house to a car with less risk of falling
Demolished a dangerous second-story deck off the dining room and installed new footings for the replacement deck
Assembled and installed a brand-new storm door at the front entrance
Work remains, but RTAFF will see the project through—including a stair lift to the second floor, a new deck, and a new upstairs bathroom with a shower Mr. Jackson can safely use.
What made this year’s RTAFF/St. Peter’s experience special? Every year (all 35) is special—but this time, Erskine Jackson’s five daughters, along with spouses/significant others, grandchildren, and even one great-grandchild (far too young to help), all showed up and pitched in.
Two moments captured the heart of the day. First, as the sisters debated what to do with items their late mother had clearly set aside for grandchildren, a mother and her young children walked by and stopped. A Minnie Mouse stuffed toy caught the little girl’s eye, and without hesitation a Jackson sister asked if she wanted it. She did—and soon a few neighborhood children (all under six) had gathered, and the question of what to do with the “really cool stuff” was answered.
The second came in a brief conversation with an adult grandchild, who was deeply appreciative. “We’ve tried,” he said, “but it was just too much for us to make a dent.” He’d seen firsthand that a group of volunteers can do in a day what a family can’t do in a month of Sundays. It’s always been the reward of this work—and he put it perfectly.
How did all this get done? Teamwork—and planning—led by parishioner Tony Poole, ably assisted by Pat Dunbar, whose skills were on full display in the kitchen. First-timers Amy Rzepka and her daughter, Grace, helped with landscaping, the kitchen redo, and the upstairs clean-up. As Amy said, “We came to work,” and they did.
For the heavy lifting, Tony and Pat enlisted Woodbridge-based contractor Brent Butler (with son Blake and associate Javier) to install the lower-level sliding door, demolish the rickety deck, and build footings for the new one. Their volunteered workday was interrupted—briefly—by the need to return the incorrect door and pick up the right unit. (Tony can share contact information for Pat Dunbar and Brent Butler.)
The new ramp was led by Tony’s neighbor, Jim Economos—an exceptionally skilled builder who has participated since his son (now a college graduate working for Blue Origin in Seattle) first joined as a 14-year-old.
None of this would have happened without the core of St. Peter’s volunteers, whose skill and selflessness make each year a success. Bob Woody, Tim Hurd, Steven Wallander, and Rusty Hazzard were indefatigable—building the ramp (an engineering marvel), repairing the outside stairs, and doing any and all lifting, moving, cleaning, and hauling that needed doing. Linda Griggs and Bill Swedish built and installed new window screens where needed. Roger Von Elm (as he has in past projects) identified landscaping opportunities and, with Margaret Core, Grace Rzepka, and others, gave the finished work real curb appeal for the Jackson family to enjoy. Jonathan Sullivan not only led the washer/dryer installation in the basement (which the family was using by the time we left), he also engineered the assembly and installation of the new storm door. That job had to wait until the deck work was nearly done—and Jonathan and the remaining crew were the last to leave at 7:50 p.m.
Through Rebuilding Together, St. Peter’s is making a tangible difference in our community. We also know participation can be shaped by Shrine Mont, weather (as in 2024), children’s sports schedules, and the simple fact that some of us have aged out—so conflicts do arise. Next year, we’ll again ask for your support and participation. As a parishioner once said, “Many hands make light work.” The more who join, the more we can do for a neighbor in need. This year, the Jacksons are smiling. Congratulations, St. Peter’s.
Filed: Jolly 2026 – RTAFF Experience for St. Peter’s
