Single mom's home repaired due to girl power (and 3 guys)

There were a few obstacles when area service organization Isabelle's House decided to renovate Theresa Ravenell's house on James Island on May 25.

There were housing and monetary donations to collect. Volunteers had only 10 hours to complete the work, and many had never done home restoration before.

And the project was supposed to be a surprise for Ravenell and her family.

Not that they let any of that stop them.

Ravenell and her seven children were amazed when they arrived home Sunday evening. Walls were freshly painted, moldy carpet had been removed from bedrooms, there was new kitchenware in the cupboards, and the taped bathroom shower head was replaced.

Light switches and fixtures were repaired. Some of the old furniture was replaced, and some painted and fixed. Other pieces were added.

Volunteer Tara Austin said some of the children who had asthma received new linens and bed pillows. "The final result — that's why you do it. You do it for the people who are helping themselves," Austin said. "Ms. Ravenell supports herself and her seven kids, and she doesn't have a lot of assistance."

As Isabelle's House founder Dakota Walker and project manager Kim Lucia gave the family the grand tour, Ravenell couldn't stop smiling, gaping and gushing over the improvements. Isabelle's House is an organization based near Moncks Corner that reaches out to women in need.

Walker added a few personal touches to the place. Isabelle's House is named for Walker's deceased grandmother, and the new refrigerator and dresser in Ravenell's bedroom once belonged to Isabelle Ryckman.

Some volunteers planted a garden in the backyard, which will eventually bear okra, tomatoes, peppers and oregano. There was also a party with catered food and local band Hank the Pirate.

Walker wanted the project, called "Adopt a Mom," to be a surprise. So she arranged for Ravenell to have a spa day at the Sanctuary at Kiawah Island.

"It was wonderful. I can't believe it was happening to me," Ravenell said. Meanwhile, her four daughters went bowling, to the Children's Museum of the Lowcountry and other activities, while the boys went to a movie, Dick's Sporting Goods, the James Island County Park and the Harley-Davidson shop to sit on the motorcycles.

Shortly before the family arrived, Walker congratulated the 40-plus volunteers for their hard work and donations.

"Here's to girl power!" she said as they cheered.

"With a few good men," one woman responded. The crew included three men. Walker purposely set up the project that way, because her group tends to focus on women helping women.

"I've never done anything like this before," volunteer Kevan Ann Spangler said. She worked hard on the cleaning crew and other odd jobs all day. "I've been here since 8 this morning and now it's 6. My God. Basically, all of us are tired."

Team leaders who had participated in similar projects smoothly guided workers through tasks.

"I really hope this is just the beginning," Spangler said. "I hope we do this for another family who needs it."

Although the group got a lot done, Walker was slightly disappointed that they were unable to procure a sleeper sofa for Ravenell's oldest child, Whitley Ravenell, who visits when she comes home from college on weekends and for summer.

She also wanted to install more light fixtures and replace several of them with energy-efficient bulbs. These are things that she plans to follow up on, as well as help Ravenell find a better-paying job.

But until then, Ravenell is more than content. "There's a reason to celebrate. "We'll be celebrating for a long time."