Medina resident suprised with renovated home
Jay Ehinger waves at the group gathered to welcome him home in Medina. BULLETIN PHOTO/Tracy Thayer
Beloved Medina senior citizen Jay Ehinger returned home on Tuesday, June 29, from two extended stays in the hospital and rehab to find his home had gotten a makeover courtesy of the Silver Sage Community Center and city residents.
Ehinger has been a city resident for over 30 years. He has manned the cash register at the Old Timer for the last 16 years. He is a well-known face at the city’s only gas station/convenience store.
While Ehinger was in the hospital in February, his pipes froze and burst, flooding the tiny rock house on Live Oak Street in Medina.
The water damage was widespread, and the building needed extensive repair. Almost all Ehinger’s possessions were ruined, and the house was unlivable.
Art Crawford and the Silver Sage Community Center were called into action to help.
Crawford received grants from Beto O’Rourke’s Powered by the People foundation, Mathew McConaughey’s just keep livin Foundation and Zack Rosenburg’s SBP disaster relief organization to defray the costs of repairs to the home.
Additionally, many Medina residents contributed time and money to renovate the house for Ehinger.
The volunteers cleaned up the house and began the process to repair the water damage.
The group repaired the kitchen; cleaned up the bedroom and living room; and Medina’s own Big Rock Construction remodeled the bathroom.
To finish off, all the living areas got a fresh coat of soft green paint.
When Ehinger saw the new changes to his house, he was clearly overwhelmed.
Silver Sage Board Member Michele Markey described Ehinger as one of the “sweetest, most soft-spoken, friendliest people in Medina.”
Silver Sage Executive Director Art Crawford spoke to the group gathered at Ehinger’s house and thanked all the people who had helped make this project a success.
Ehinger shyly rolled his walker forward and said, “thank you and God bless you,” seemingly astonished by the outpouring of love from the group who came out to welcome him home.
For more information on the Silver Sage Community Center, go to silversage.org.