ANDOVER — What do a landscaper, a contractor and a home improvement store giant have in common?
All three are helping an 81-year-old woman from Andover return to her fire-damaged house before winter.
And today, Rocky's Ace Hardware on Route 114 in North Andover is serving hot dogs to raise money for a fund, which has been set up to pay for the much-needed repairs to the home of Mary Manock at 185 Elm St.
Manock, an admitted hoarder, can't return to her house until it is cleaned out and major repairs are made. The home was condemned after a fire Aug. 20.
"People have been wonderful, but there is still much to do," said Lana Schofield, part of a group of volunteers now dubbed Mary's Angels.
"The house needs lots of work, and before winter, so that the pipes don't freeze," she said.
Several in-kind donations have been received, so far.
Schofield said Marceau Construction of Methuen, owned by Roger Desjardins, donated Dumpsters for the cleanup and Chris Melvin Landscaping of North Andover removed trees and debris from the yard. The Home Depot of Methuen has pledged $300 worth of building materials, she said.
"Fire Deputy Jim Dolan came out on his own time on the weekend to help pump water out of the basement, which flooded during the storm. And he stayed all day," Schofield said.
Plumbers, electricians and other tradesmen are needed to make the home livable again, Schofield said.
Mary's Angels have set up a fund to pay for the repairs.
Anyone who would like to contribute may send a check to: Mary's Angels Fund, c/o River Bank, 30 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover, MA 01845.
People also are needed to work. Volunteers may call Schofield at 617-429-0483.
