Denny Jones

FLINT - The gentle prod is one common thread that leads so many to find their place in this world.
For Denny Jones, his call to service came through Peggy Anderson, a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Flint.
"God spoke to me through Peggy...I've been involved ever since," said Denny Jones, a volunteer for Salem Housing in Flint - one of several local missions supported by First Presbyterian "I believe this is what I've been called to do."
Salem Housing Community Development Corporation is a non-profit organization serving a diverse population and charged with the mission of revitalizing neighborhoods in need.
"For me, it kind of evolved," said the 60-year-old Jones, an engineer by trade. "We work to glorify God, but now it has evolved into me trying to help provide service opportunities for others, especially youth...it fits with the saying in Proverbs about training up children in the way they should go, and when they're old they won't depart from it. That's kind of why I do it."
Jones, who worked construction in college, is most active in the "Second Saturday" workdays organized through Salem, once-per-month service opportunities for anyone interested in helping local families achieve their dreams of home ownership.
Often working alongside prospective homeowners, volunteers are assigned by skill level to complete specific tasks aimed at turning vacant houses into decent, sustainable, homes.
There's always something to be done, and Jones is just the guy to find it.
"Most of the time we're cleaning up, painting, picking up trash and that kind of stuff," he said. "It doesn't require too many skills...we get houses donated to us, or buy them for a buck or on back taxes - sometimes we gut it, sometimes we just fix it up."
Salem Housing has been blessed with numerous volunteers who, like Jones, bring a specific skill set to the job site.
Even those who are unable to do the heavy lifting often provide refreshments to workers or conduct pledge drives to aid the overall mission.
Second Saturday volunteers typically work from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and could be working at more than one house throughout the day. The family, friends, and volunteers meet with Salem Housing staff at the first house to get acquainted with each other, learn about the job site and are then assigned a task.
"I think people get enjoyment out of it," said Jones, who admitted that it's not all fun and games. "But, we do have a mission and we're trying to get things done."
If you are interested in volunteering your time or donating to Salem Housing Community Development Corporation call 810.785.5340 or send an e-mail to  for more information.