A Full House of Hope in Connecticut

“We have a full house, three queens and two aces.” That’s how Stamford, Connecticut homeowner – and United States Marine veteran and cancer survivor – Robert Snell lovingly describes his five children, who are now all adults – three women and two men.  And with the help of Charter our Community and Rebuilding Together volunteers, a safer and healthier home is now in the cards for the Snell family.

About 30 Charter Communications employees and volunteers from Rebuilding Together Hartford and Rebuilding Together Fairfield County helped to rebuild the Snell home in June.  Projects included carpentry, painting, yardwork, as well as installing a new roof and chimney, and interior doors.

 

Staying Strong

Repairing the Snells’ front porch and steps was also one of the successful projects, albeit a bittersweet one. The family matriarch – and Robert’s wife for 58 years –  Mrs. Snell, passed away just a few weeks before the Charter our Community rebuilding day. “She loved to sit on the porch… this is where people met her. She could see people going by, the kids, she was a community mother,” says Dawn, the oldest of the Snell children, who lives upstairs from her father and is co-owner of the home.

Despite the family’s painful loss, Dawn (or Reverend Dawn, as she’s known in the local community – she’s a minister), is full of hope.  “I’m just overwhelmed and I’m overjoyed because finally some things were done that needed to be done for a long time and the fact that we’ve been blessed for Charter and Rebuilding Together to come through and do this for us… it’s just wonderful.”

Charter Communications employees, like Roger, who has previously participated in Charter our Community events in St. Louis shares this optimism. “It’s really nice to work for a company that cares about the communities that they serve… a great way to get out and experience people that you maybe don’t work with every day.”

 

Bowled Over With Emotion

One of Robert Snell’s biggest passions is bowling. It’s fair to say he’s quite good, having bowled 34 perfect 300 games. He’s even in the Connecticut United States Bowling Congress Hall of Fame.

When Mr. Snell saw his backyard all spruced up, he agreed that the work that was completed was a perfect strike, adding “I think it’s fantastic… I can put a couple of bowling lanes back here…”

And as for the late Mrs. Snell, what would her reaction be? Reverend Dawn knows that she’s looking down on us with a big smile on her face, “No, mommy’s not here in the flesh but she is here in the spirit and I believe just like the rest of my family… she’s saying, ‘Well done.’”

United States Marine veteran Robert Snell salutes the American flag

Homeowners Dawn and Robert Snell

The Snell family home

Charter our Community volunteers get ready to rebuild the Snell family home

(L-R) Charter Communications employees John, Alex and husband of Charter employee Peggy take apart an old shed

A Rebuilding Together volunteer makes sure the old shed is carted away

The rebuilt front steps of the Snell family home

Charter Communications employee Diana paints the side steps and railing

(L, R) Charter employees James and Dan and (C) Rebuilding Together volunteer Jim work on a new section of fence

A new section of fence fits into place

(L-R) Charter Communications employees Petal and Peggy paint the living room

Charter Communications employee Patty renovates a storage door

Rebuilding Together volunteers work on a flower bed

A new flower bed at the Snell family home

Homeowner Robert Snell's Connecticut State Bowling Association Hall of Fame plaque