Four Mentone-area churches partnered on the 11th annual Mission to Mentone on Friday, April 19, with volunteers working on Retha Hart’s home at 506 N. Franklin St., Mentone. Shown from left are Wes Shuler, Seth Mikel and Tim Croy.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — The late Russell Hart once served as Mentone’s town marshal.

Now, people from the area are serving his widow, Retha Hart, by fixing up the couple’s home.

As part of the 11th annual Mission to Mentone, volunteers from four area churches, Mentone United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church of Mentone, Harrison Center Church and Cornerstone Church, worked on the Hart home at 506 N. Franklin St. on Friday, April 19.

Each year, Mentone-area churches band together on repair projects for residents who need the help.

Mentone Town Council member Tim Croy, who attends MUMC, said volunteers were working on the outside of the home, which Russell and Retha built in 1962.

“She had a bad spot around the wood fireplace that we’re eliminating, and we’re going to eliminate (a) chimney, redo her furnace pipe,” said Croy. “We’re going to redeck all of (her roof and put) new shingles on (it).”

Plans are to continue working on Saturday, April 20. Volunteers are still welcomed both for the Hart home and over at the Reed home, 3858 S. Viking Drive, where a handicapped ramp will be built in the near future. People may learn how to volunteer by calling Croy at (574) 551-7662.

They don’t have to live in Mentone or attend one of the churches to help.

Croy said Mission to Mentone is about “giving back to the community.”

“Our big thing is sharing God’s love with the community,” he said.

Croy said projects are funded by donations. People are able to give to future Mission to Mentone projects by sending funds to HCC at 965 S. 800 W., Etna Green, IN 46524. Checks should be made out to HCC, with “Mission to Mentone” in the memo line.

He thanked Bulldog Saloon in Mentone for giving lunch to volunteers and Bin There Dump That and Apex Waste for providing a dumpster.

Retha said she was “very thankful” that volunteers were working on her home.

“I appreciate what they’re doing for me,” she said.

“(Russell) served the community a lot. It’s nice that we can give back to them,” said Croy.