Tommy Toolbox will tool around town all year
Full-time handyman hired to help seniors with home repairs
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

KATHY CHANG Carl Grillo (l) discusses with Avenel resident Steve Meszaros what he is going to do to fix the leaking gutter at Meszaros' home. Township officials introduced Grillo as Tommy Toolbox on July 27. The Tommy Toolbox program is an extension of the Tooling Around the Township program, which is held annually at the end of April.

WOODBRIDGE - When Steve Meszaros' Avenel home needed a minor repair on its leaking gutter, he called Tommy Toolbox.

Township officials introduced Tommy Toolbox - an alias for Carl Grillo - at Meszaros' home on July 27.

Grillo, a township resident, is an experienced contractor hired as a full-time employee of the township's annual Tooling Around the Township volunteer organization

"I wanted to announce this three months ago," said Mayor John E. McCormac.

"It's a free township-wide home repair and fix-up service for senior and handicapped township residents," said the mayor. "Through Tommy Toolbox, [seniors] will be able to stay in their homes and enjoy a better quality of life."

Tommy Toolbox will be a full-time employee of the program.

"Since Tooling Around the Township is only one day out of the year, Tommy Toolbox is for the other 364 days," said Donna Brightman, executive director of the Woodbridge Housing Authority.

"These are for residents who have minor repairs that are too small for regular contractors and too small for us to do on the day of Tooling Around the Township.

McCormac re-launched the annual program with its current name - it was previously called Christmas in April - on March 2 as they got ready for the annual fix-up day on April 28.

The annual community-based program, which strictly functions on donations raised year-round, organizes teams of volunteers, local trades persons and business sponsors to fix up, repair and help maintain homes for senior and disabled township residents.

The Christmas in April program was established by former Councilwoman Caroline Ehrlich, McCormac, and Brightman in 2000.

This past April, more than 750 volunteers completed repairs on 22 homes throughout the township.

Since 2000, more than 120 township senior and handicapped residents and their families have benefited from home repairs through the efforts of Tooling Around the Township.

Additionally, community volunteers have built 15 wheelchair ramps and made modifications for residents with handicaps, at more than 19 residences.

The same rules for Tooling Around the Township applies to Tommy Toolbox.

Seniors and handicapped residents can apply to the program, or someone can nominate a senior or handicapped resident in need, by logging on to the township Web site at www.twp.

woodbridge.nj.us or by calling the Tommy Toolbox hot line at (732) 634-2750, ext. 105.

Tommy Toolbox is coordinated by the Woodbridge Housing Authority, which reviews applications for eligible residents, dispatches Tommy Toolbox to the home or apartment, and monitors the repair services.

"We believe that a home doesn't just start at the doorstep," said McCormac. "The entire community is also part of the home, and we all have a responsibility to make sure it is safe, healthy and beautiful."