The Times-Journal

Sunday, September 5, 2010 | DeKalb County's Oldest Newspaper

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DeKalb project starts to help workers, needy

By Mark Harrison
The Times-Journal

Published September 5, 2009

A group of companies across Northeast Alabama have figured out a way to get some hands-on experience in renewing their state-required certification and help those in need all at the same time.

It’s called the DeKalb Helping Hands Program, and for four families across the county, the group did just that on Thursday.

According to Monty Darwin with T.R. Darwin and Son Excavating in Sylvania, the group found a way to get some hands-on experience while renewing their state certifications in installing septic tanks about five years ago.

We are regulated by the state as a certified septic tank installer,” Darwin said. “We have to keep continuing education to keep our certification. Normally we would go somewhere far off in the state and pay between $150-$250 to do that.”

So instead of sitting in a classroom, Darwin said Wade Bobo, an environmentalist with the DeKalb County Health Department, came up with a plan to get everyone together to put in septic tanks in Cherokee County.

“He’s the one who was instrumental in getting this started,” Darwin said.

Helping Hands evolved this year into a one-day effort to provide free septic tanks for four needy families in Valley Head, Geraldine, Sylvania and Ider and complete their certification needs all at the same time. It’s the first effort of its kind in DeKalb, Darwin said, and attracted 64 workers needing recertification from Cherokee, Jackson and Marshall counties.

“We put in four systems that we figure would be worth about $44,000 total if the people paid for it themselves,” Darwin said. “We are the only ones that do this type of training in the state. We do this for needy people. We have a little bit of a screening process they have to go through.”

Through gathering donations of pipe, gravel and top soil, Darwin said the plan became reality on Thursday.

“Our 64 people made donations, and we were able to buy the tanks,” Darwin said. “We had them bring their equipment, whatever we needed, to the sites. We saved the travel costs and were able to spend our money here and give a little back to the community.”

In Geraldine, Darwin said the group was able to gain experience in putting in a new system that uses peat moss. He said the system cost about $27,000 and Bord-Na-Mona Peat Systems donated about two-thirds of the funds and equipment needed.

And Darwin said the effort attracted the attention of state Sen. Lowell Barron and Rep. Todd Greeson.

“They came and were interested in what we were doing,” Darwin said. “They asked a lot of questions. In the end, they thought it was a win-win situation for everyone.”

Darwin said he hopes Helping Hands will continue and become an annual event in DeKalb County.

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