THOMASVILLE — In March, citizens will have opportunities to help with the betterment of the community.

Thomasville Landmarks recently started working on its 2007 Community Preservation Program and will hold volunteer work days next month.

This is the 11th year of the program and marks a new partnership with Decent, Affordable and Sustainable Housing (D.A.S.H.) and Habitat for Humanity.

“We are joining forces with D.A.S.H. and Habitat for Humanity this year to fulfill greater needs of homeowners,” said Jessica Staple, programs coordinator. “This collaboration allows the program to take on extensive exterior and interior repairs.”

The program is aimed at helping homeowners on a fixed-income with repairs to their historic homes.

“We complement each other,” said Ken Manwaring, executive director of the Thomasville-Thomas County Habitat for Humanity. “They do an outside kind of renovation to the house and we work on the interior and extra rooms to make sure everything is in working order so a house is safe and secure. We try to make a house that will treat a family.”

This year’s selected homes are at 222 W. Clay St., 618 N. Stevens St. and 804 Wright St.

“We are currently seeking a fourth home to move a selected family into and complete the necessary repairs,” said Staple.

Schedule work includes a bedroom and bathroom addition, and kitchen renovation at 618 N. Stevens St.; porch repairs at two homes with the assistance of Helping Hands from the First United Methodist Church; priming and painting; electrical service upgrades; heating and air conditioning upgrades; roof repairs; and, insulation and weatherization by the Southwest Georgia Community Action Council’s (SWGACAC) Weatherization Program.

Volunteers are needed primarily to paint the homes, but help can also be used for registration, to set up and break down lunches, and assist with clean-up at the end of each work day.

Staple said no experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome.

Individuals may also get involved during Habitat for Humanity volunteer work days on selected Saturdays.

Manwaring thanked local organization The Blackberry Patch, Cone Financial Group and Commercial Bank for helping provide funding for these collaborations.

“I think if all the different organizations would work together as well as Habitat, Hands On Thomas County, Landmarks and D.A.S.H., then we could get a lot more accomplished,” said Manwaring. “We also work closely with the City of Thomasville and they give us a lot of help and head us in the right direction when we need it. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone did that?”