The members of the Bucks-Montgomery Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) are involved with community service projects regularly in areas where the members live and work.

Recently a local nonprofit organization called on NARI for some assistance.

That organization, Reaching at Problems Inc., (RAP), located in Chalfont, serves young girls and women ages 12 to 18 years old who must be separated from their families for the purpose of resolving issues within themselves and their families.

“The RAP house provides the girls with a change of environment, professional counselors, education and a home-like setting in order to help them change within themselves and reach their potential,” said RAP’s executive director, Donna Lasorda Cimino.

Unfortunately, the building that houses these young women had poor heating through most of the rooms.

Jim McCafferty, owner/presiden of Sterling Mechanical Services, headed up this project for NARI.

He has been a NARI member for four years and has been active volunteering in the community.

“I was asked what could be done to regulate and balance the heating system in an agency’s home that was more than 150 years old,” said McCafferty. “With the cold weather quickly approaching, I talked to several other NARI members to see if they could assist with this effort and make it a NARI community service project.”

“Our organization has been in this home for more than 30 years and the heating system has never worked properly,” said Lasorda Cimino. “The oldest portion of this house is more than 200 years old, while the other section is well over 150 years old.

“We have always had problems with the heating system where the thermostats in one particular zone do not adequately control the radiators in that area,” Cimino said. “I am so appreciative that Jim McCafferty and his NARI associates were able to come in and perform miracles. It’s so nice to have the heat balanced throughout the whole house now.”

“The RAP house provides much-needed housing and assistance to kids – it gives the girls an opportunity to have a firm footing so they can learn the life skills necessary to succeed,” said McCafferty. “It was an honor to assist an organization that has the ability to transform lives.”

NARI member companies donating their time, money and products included Sterling Mechanical Services Inc., West Point; Wes Carver Electrical Contracting Inc., Telford; Detweiler, Hershey & Associates, P.C., Souderton; and Area Construction, West Point.

Reaching at Problems is a state licensed, nonprofit, non-denominational, therapeutic group care residence providing round-the-clock care for adolescent, non-delinquent girls, who are in such conflict with themselves and their parents that they must live apart for the well being of all parties concerned. RAP can accommodate 15 girls.

The RAP goal is to resolve family problems and reunite the adolescent with her parents whenever safe and possible.

NARI members consist of professional contractors, designers, service providers and product suppliers who have committed to a code of ethics and quality to ensure clients are treated fairly and that each building/construction project meets specific standards of excellence.

For more information on NARI, consumers can call (215) 340-0279 or visit their Web site at www.bucksmontnari.org. project.