The Fortress Project Inc

THE FORTRESS PROJECT MISSION IS TO REPAIR, ADD HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY, AND REMODEL HOMES, FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES. WE DO THIS AT LITTLE OR NO COST TO THE HOMEOWNER, AND WHEN POSSIBLE, THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL CHURCHES.

THE FORTRESS PROJECT MISSION PROJECTS 2021 -JANUARY:RORY AND FAMILY LIVE IN A RIVER FALLS TRAILER PARK. HIS TRAILER HAD RECENTLY BEEN MODIFIED, ADDING A PEAKED ROOF AND TRUSSES OVER WHAT WAS A FLAT ROOF. WHEN I ARRIVED WITH A LOCAL ELECTRICIAN, WIRES WERE HANGING IN ALL AREAS OF THE HOME, AND THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOX WAS UNCOVERED IN THEIR CHILD'S BEDROOM CLOSET. WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIAN, AND EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY, WE SECURED WIRES AND PROPERLY COMPLETED CIRCUIT RUNS THROUGHOUT THE HOME. THE FAMILY WORKED ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONALS, EAGER TO LEARN; SECURING WIRES TO TRUSSES, CONNECTING SWITCHES, AND PROPERLY WIRING OUTLETS. THIS PROJECT REQUIRED SEVERAL DAYS. AT THE CONCLUSION OF EACH DAY WE HAD A BRIEF BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER TIME, MAINLY FOCUSING IN THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.FEBRUARY:THE FORTRESS PROJECT RECEIVED A CALL FROM A CONCERNED NEIGHBOR IN A NEW RICHMOND TRAILER PARK. THE FURNACE OF AN ELDERLY, BEDRIDDEN MAN WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. IT WAS ALSO LEAKING A LOT OF WATER NEAR ITS CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS WAS ANOTHER TRAILER THAT HAD MANY ISSUES, OWNED BY TONY, A MAN WE HAD HELPED IN THE PAST BY BUILDING HANDICAP ACCESS TO HIS TRAILER. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN HVAC PROFESSIONAL, WE ASSESSED THE PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO ELIMINATE WASTE LIQUID PROPERLY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE INOPERABLE FURNACE HAD ALSO CAUSED FURTHER PROBLEMS. LACK OF HEAT CAUSED WATER PIPES TO FREEZE. VOLUNTEERS AND PLUMBERS THEN SPENT SEVERAL DAYS FINDING, ACCESSING, AND FIXING THE LEAK IN THE WEEKS TO COME.MARCH:A HOUSEFIRE/EXPLOSION BURNED THE HOME OF A HUDSON MAN. THE FORTRESS PROJECT MET WITH HOMEOWNER JOHN, AND CONCERNED FRIENDS, TO OFFER SUPPORT AND PRAYER IN HIS TIME OF NEED. WE WORKED PERSISTENTLY WITH THE INSURANCE THE COMPANY AND HOMEOWNER TO PLAN FOR RAZING AND REBUILDING THE HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, INSURANCE ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTS HAD ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE. THEY WERE NOT SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE REBUILD COSTS. AT THIS TIME, THOUGH WE ARE STILL IN REGULAR CONTACT, AS THIS MATTER CONTINUES TO BE UNRESOLVED.APRIL:SHERRI, A RESIDENT OF A NEW RICHMOND TRAILER PARK AND WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER OF FORTRESS PROJECT IN THE PAST, CALLED OUT OF CONCERN FOR BURNING SMELLS AND A HOT ELECTRICAL BOX IN HER HOME. SHERRI IS ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICAL NEEDS, AND SUPPLEMENTS HER INCOME THROUGH SEWING PROJECTS. THE FORTRESS SENT OUT AN ELECTRICIAN TO ASSESS AND ADVISE. THE WIRING OF HER 1970'S TRAILER HAD BEEN ADDED TO AND ADJUSTED BY AN AMATEUR; MIS WIRED, HOT/NEUTRAL, CROSSED, ETC. CIRCUITS WERE ALSO OUTDATED. THE FORTRESS PROJECT REWIRED SEVERAL CIRCUITS, AND REPLACED 5 BURNED OUTLETS. HOMEOWNER WAS ADVISED TO PLACE HEAVY LOADS ON DIFFERENT CIRCUITS (DRYER, AC, ETC.) THESE EFFORTS SEEM TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUES. COST WAS PROHIBITIVE TO REWIRE ENTIRE TRAILER. SHERRI HAS BECOME AREGULARLY VISITED FRIEND OF FP. WE PRAY AND READ FROM THE BIBLE FREQUENTLY WITH SHERRI.MAY:IN THE FALL OF 2020, THE FORTRESS PROJECT PURCHASED A 45+ YEAR OLD, ALL TERRAIN FORKLIFT FOR USE ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. OUR BUSYNESS AND ITS CONDITION FORCED US TO LEAVE IT IN PLACE, AT THE SITE OF PURCHASE, THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS. IT REQUIRED EXTENSIVE REFITTING AND REPAIR, AT POTENTIALLY EXCESSIVE COST. THE FORTRESS PROJECT PURCHASED THE REQUIREDREPLACEMENT COMPONENTS (CARBURETOR, STARTER, BRAKE, TIRE, ETC.) AND ASSISTED VOLUNTEER MECHANICS TO BRING THE LIFT TO A SAFE LEVEL OF OPERATION. WE CONTINUE TO USE IT NOW, ON A NEW BUILD PROJECT!JULY:THE FORTRESS PROJECT REMOVED EXISTING, UNEVEN, AND ROTTING STEPS FROM THE ENTRANCE OF THE TRAILER HOME OWNED BY SHERRI. SHE HAS SIGNIFICANT INJURY AND PAIN TO HER KNEES, THIS WAS MADE WORSE WHEN GOING UP AND DOWN STANDARD HEIGHT AND UNEVEN STEPS. WE REPLACED HER EXISTING STEPS WITH COMFORTABLE LOW-RISE TREADS, AND A STURDY RAILING.OCTOBER:THE FORTRESS PROJECT WAS CALLED BY DAN OF STAR PRAIRIE, IN AUGUST. HE ASKED IF THE FORTRESS COULD ASSIST IN CREATING A LEGAL BEDROOM IN HIS BASEMENT, AS HE AND HIS WIFE SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE ADOPTION OF A TEENAGE BOY IN DISTRESS. THE BOY WAS CURRENTLY LIVING WITH THEM UNDER FOSTER CARE, SLEEPING ON A COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM. THE FORTRESS PURCHASED MATERIALS REQUIRED AND COORDINATED THE EXCAVATION OF AN EGRESS WINDOW. THE FORTRESS WORKED ALONGSIDE DAN AND SEVERAL FRIENDS. THE INTERIOR IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS. LATE OCTOBER, THE FORTRESS WAS ALSO CONTACTED BY TRACY, RESIDENT OF A TRAILER PARK IN RIVER FALLS. HER SON WAS SEVERELY INJURED WHILE SERVING IN THE US AIRFORCE, AFTER AN EXTREME FALL IN THE TERRAIN OUTSIDE OF LOS VEGAS NEVADA. HE CANNOT WALK UNASSISTED, AND WILL BE RELEASED FROM DUTY IN THE COMING MONTHS. TRACY ASKED IF FORTRESS COULD ADD A STABLE WALKWAY AND STAIRWAY TO ENTER THEIR HOME. FORTRESS REMOVED THE EXISTING STAIRS. THEN ADDED NEW, LOW-RISE STEPS, A HANDRAIL, AND BOARDWALK TO THEIR HOME EXTERIOR. THE TRAILER PARK AGREED TO REPAVE THEIR SINKING PARKING PAD AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO THEM.NOVEMBER:THE FORTRESS PROJECT WAS CONTACTED BY AN INTERNATIONAL MISSION GROUP IN HUDSON. THEIR GOAL WAS TO USED THEIR BASEMENT AS A MISSION SUPPORT LOCATION FOR FOREIGN MISSIONARIES NEEDING TEMPORARY HOUSING. THEY HAD MANY VOLUNTEER GROUPS AND PROFESSIONALS ASSISTING, AND REQUESTED FORTRESS CREATE THEIR BATHROOM SPACE (TILE, LIGHTING, WALLS). THE FORTRESS LAID TILE ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR AND HALLWAY AREA. FOLLOWING (2022), WE FRAMED THE INTERIOR CEILING AND INSTALLED AN EXHAUST FAN AND LIGHTING OVER THE SHOWER. WE THEN ARRANGED FOR DRYWALL TO BE INSTALLED. EACH OF THE MINISTRY PROJECTS COMPLETED ALSO BROUGHT TIME TO SHARE GODS WORD AND PRAYER FOR THE RECIPIENT. IN ADDITION TO CONSTRUCTION SERVICE WORK, THE FORTRESS PROJECT ALSO SERVED TO OFFICIATE 3 WEDDINGS, AND PREACH IN SEVERAL CHURCHES DURING 2021.