First stop Saturday morning was Wabash Avenue in Evanston, a street of older homes with small yards in a modest neighborhood.

        A team of volunteers raked leaves into piles while another team climbed ladders and cleaned gutters as part of an annual program to help lower-income, disabled and elderly homeowners get ready for winter.

        “We're interested in reaching out to the community, and helping people that need help,” said Michael Snow, who organized a team of 40 volunteers — including students — from St. Mary's Church in Hyde Park to tackle 23 yards and 18 homes in Evanston and Hyde Park on a crisp fall day.

        This group of 40 was among more than 2,000 volunteers who spread out to more than 900 homes in 118 Tristate neighborhoods and communities. They were part of Prepare Affair 2001, organized by People Working Cooperatively, a Cincinnati nonprofit agency that specializes in repairs and other home-related services for low-income, elderly and disabled homeowners.

        “It's just a blessing,” said Verdell Gentry, who stood on her porch in a housecoat as Lou Beckmeyer climbed a ladder and checked the gutters of her Wabash Avenue home. She is 77 and has lived on Wabash since 1964.

        “If it wasn't for them I wouldn't know what I'd do,” Ms. Gentry continued. “If I need plumbing, they do that. My pipe burst one year and they fixed that. Jane Dyar of Hyde Park was on Wabash with her husband, daughter and son, all raking leaves.

        “We do it every year,” Ms. Dyar said. “It's just a way to give back.”

        In Northern Kentucky, the first lesson Highlands Middle School sixth-grade teacher Rick Rafferty teaches his class each year is community service.

        “I call it making a difference in the world,” said Mr. Rafferty, a 43-year-old social studies teacher from Fort Thomas. “We talk about community service and then we do a project. I do it to

        help kids become oriented to volunteering so they hopefully begin a life of service.”

        Mr. Rafferty and about 50 of his students and members of their families were among the 2,000 volunteers. They worked on homes in Fort Thomas.

        “People Working Cooperatively provides a full scope of professional home repair, weatherization and maintenance services for homeowners,” said Kim Sullivan, a spokeswoman for the group.

        “It exists to protect the housing community in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas, ensuring that the elderly, disabled and other at-risk homeowners can remain in their homes, living independently in a safe, sound environment.”

       Enquirer reporter Patrick Crowley contributed to this report.

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