Christmas came early this year for Doris Reddick, but it wasn’t the usual gift of toys or gadgets. Instead, the holiday brought an outpouring of love, hard work, and the kind of community spirit that can change lives.
On Christmas Eve, the anti-violence organization Unity in the Community gave Reddick the greatest gift she could have imagined: a beautifully renovated home, thanks to the dedication of local teenagers.
For Reddick, who’s lived in the same South Philadelphia home on Webster Street for over 65 years, this renovation was more than just a home makeover—it was a dream come true.
As she walked through her newly renovated kitchen and bathroom, she couldn’t believe her eyes. “What did I do to deserve all this?” she asked when NBC 10’s Aaron Baskerville visited her. Gazing at the stunning work these teenagers had done, she declared, “Everybody’s so nice to me. I’m glad I’m here.”
A Labor of Love from Teens at Risk
This heartwarming transformation was the result of months of work by teens from the Unity in the Community’s Carpentry Academy, a program that provides mentorship and teaches essential life skills.
These teens, most considered at risk, chose to stay off the streets, roll up their sleeves, and learn the art of carpentry while giving back to someone in need.
They worked diligently on Reddick’s home, making her dreams of a new microwave, refrigerator, and even a brand new bathroom a reality.
Anton Moore, the head of Unity in the Community, couldn’t have been prouder of the teens’ efforts.
“At the end of the day, we’re not putting a gun in these kids’ hands. We’re teaching them a skill. We’re showing them that they can make a real difference,” Moore said.
A Holiday Miracle
As Reddick stood in her newly renovated home, overwhelmed with gratitude, she reflected on her own recent health scare and called the renovations “a Christmas gift from the heavens.”
The fact that these young people took time out of their own lives to make hers better was something she’ll never forget.
“I love to see these kids doing something positive,” she said, hugging each teen who had worked so hard. “All you hear about is the bad things—this robbery, that shooting—but you don’t hear enough about the good. And they’re doing good things.”
Reddick’s story is a powerful reminder of the goodness in the world and provides that the holiday spirit isn’t just about what we receive, but what we give.
