By John Chambless
Staff Writer

For 27 years, Good Neighbors Home Repair, based in Kennett Square, has been repairing homes for those who otherwise could not afford it. On Oct. 12, the organization is holding its first formal fundraiser at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, displaying photos of those it has helped over the years on the walls of the museum, and sharing a private tour of Wyeth family art by Victoria Wyeth, granddaughter of Andrew Wyeth.

In a recent Good Neighbors newsletter, executive director Harold Naylor wrote, “Within our community, both southern Chester County and northern New Castle County, there are numerous people living in unsafe homes, simply because they cannot make the necessary repairs. All too often, these homeowners are forced to choose between putting food on their tables or fixing their roofs. As you can well imagine, they will choose eating over fixing the leaky roof.”

More than 400 volunteers helped in Good Neighbors projects last year, but “Currently, we are experiencing a backlog of over 30 homes,” Naylor wrote. “We can only fix each home as the funds and manpower are available. Poverty does not have a slow season!”

For the Oct. 12 “Portraits of Hope” event at the Brandywine, there will be a gallery of photos of homeowners and volunteers, spotlighting the years of work done by Good Neighbors. There will be a presentation of some personal stories from homeowners, and then Victoria Wyeth, who has been leading lively, informative tours of works by her family members for years, will take groups around the museum.

The event runs from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. It is described as “a benefit event that represents the faces of us all -- homeowners, volunteers and donors -- working together to repair the homes of hundreds individuals and families, from elderly couples and widows, and single moms with kids, to families with disabled kids and veterans in our local area.”

Tickets are $150 and include two drink tickets per person, hors d'oeuvres, a dinner served in the River Room offering filet, fish and vegetarian options, as well as coffee, tea and dessert. In addition to the tours, all the galleries will be open, there will be live music and a live benefit auction.

Reservations are required by Oct. 5. Details and reservations are available at www.GoodNeighborsHomeRepair.org.