VIDEO | Volunteers blitz build replacement home for Upper Yoder man

JOHNSTOWN One week ago, Joey Varmecky had almost nothing.

In October, a flue fire claimed his Swank Street home. That night, Varmecky, a deaf and partially blind man who doesnt speak, showed up on the doorstep of his friends home. His feet were covered only by a pair of stockings.

On Thursday afternoon, the Upper Yoder Township man was handed a set of keys to a new home.

More than 100 volunteers took part in the project coordinated by Beaver County-based Hosanna Industries Inc., a faith-based nonprofit that rehabilitates, repairs and builds homes for the needy across southwestern Pennsylvania.

We heard about this shortly after the fire in the fall, said Amanda Becker, a mission worker for Hosanna. So, we started putting some feelers out as far as volunteers and funding.

Once money and helping hands were in place, Varmeckys new abode came together in four days. Hosanna Industries calls it a blitz build.

Im kind of at the point of exhaustion, Becker said with a smile just after the ceremony.

On average, Becker said, Hosanna rehabs and repairs around 150 houses and a handful of full builds per year.

Varmeckys new home was Hosannas first blitz build of 2014, she said.

I like it two thumbs up, said Varmecky while touring the basement.

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VIDEO | Volunteers blitz build replacement home for Upper Yoder man