Brookfield CT Charity May Soon Face Extinction, Founder Sends 'S.O.S.'

Brookfield resident Peter Brady, founder of Handy Dandy Handyman, is pleading for assistance so he can continue to help those in need.

By Wendy Ann Mitchell (Patch Staff) - June 14, 2016 1:13 pm ET

Brookfield, CT — Whether you believe in karma, you reap what you sow, or what goes around comes around, one thing is certain— Peter Brady, founder of Handy Dandy Handyman (HDHM), a Brookfield-based nonprofit, should be eagerly awaiting his harvest for all the good he's thrown out there.

Last December, HDHM helped a Danbury man living on oxygen and limited mobility who needed a new bed by providing him with a free, new mattress, box spring and all the trimmings.

In January, HDHM came to the rescue of one of its volunteers, Jeff Moxham, a Brookfield landscaper who became a paraplegic when an industrial garage door broke and came crashing down while Jeff was under it, leaving him with a severely injured spinal cord. The nonprofit made his home handicapped accessible with the help of donated supplies and free labor by 9 licensed contractors.

Most recently, HDHM installed a handicap ramp for a Danbury woman undergoing chemo so she could more easily get to her doctors appointments.

Brady said he helps residents of Brookfield, New Milford, Danbury, New Fairfield, Bethel, New Milford, Newtown, Monroe and works with contractors in Redding, Wilton and Ridgefield in order to provide free services to those who need help.

But now, Brady says, the charity is facing extinction as funds are dwindling and he needs help so, along with more than 2,200 volunteers, he can help those in need maintain their dignity, self esteem and improve their physical well-being. Brady recently set up a Crowdrise page, "Help Save Handy Dandy Handyman: SOS!" On it he wrote:

"Due to financial constraints, we are now facing extinction having 4 months of funds to support our mission statement of "Helping those in need maintain their dignity, self esteem, and/or physical well being." Having come this far and being of sound mind and body, we would very much like to continue our mission but will need financial help to do so as we are unable to self fund from my family retirement savings."

Brady said he started HDHM after retiring early at age 58, "to give back to the Lord all the blessings bestowed on our family."

Now 75, he and his wife have spent the last 16 years helping over 1,000 less fortunate families in Fairfield County and surrounding communities with home repairs, home makeovers, yard clearing, finding and furnishing homes for the homeless, working with recovering addicts and so much more.

Over the last 16 years, HDHM has received 18 awards and was featured on the NBC Nightly News' "Making a Difference" segment.

 "The HDHM Ministry means the world to me and provides me with a "Feel Good Day" every time I leave the house en route to a client in need," Brady said.

"Last fall we heard from a man with terminal cancer having a max of 5 years to live. He was going to lose his home if the leak in his roof was not repaired. HDHM went in, replaced the roof, replaced the gutters, painted the exterior, replaced the kitchen ceiling, downsized the extra debris in his basement, cut his lawn, cleaned all his leaves in his yard, took down a large tree over the house and he is loving life doing well."

Brady said if they do not raise enough funds to keep going, they will be shutting down operations on Sept 1, 2016.

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Pete Brady Boss Man
Handy Dandy Handyman
26 Shamrock Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
203-740-1243 (Phone)
203-733-8002 (Cell)
203-740-2524 (Fax)
www.hdhm.org



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"A Non-Profit Company working as a Ministry"