Rain or shine: Catlettsburg team withstands wet weather to rebuild community

Community News

Catlettsburg, Kentucky, Foundation
Marathon Petroleum volunteers work together to rebuild a homeowner’s back deck. Pictured: Mason Gussler, Dave Schug, Riley Gussler, Josh Homan and Jon Gussler.
 
  • Marathon Petroleum employees and retirees from Catlettsburg took part in the local Repair Affair in Ashland, Kentucky, despite steady downpours.
  • The city-coordinated service project brings together volunteers from across the area to help low-income homeowners who are elderly or disabled with various home repairs.
  • Marathon has played a major role in the spring event since its inception in 2001, providing volunteers, tools and resources to complete the repair work.

Despite a steady downpour and muddy conditions, more than two dozen employees, family members and retirees represented Marathon Petroleum at this year’s Repair Affair, hosted by the City of Ashland, Kentucky.

Marathon Petroleum volunteers work together to rebuild a homeowner’s back deck. Pictured: Mason Gussler, Dave Schug, Riley Gussler, Josh Homan and Jon Gussler.
Marathon Petroleum volunteers working on a homeowner’s back deck. Pictured: Tony Waggoner, Steve Hester, Brandon McCarthy and Jon Humphreys.
Marathon Petroleum volunteers prep materials for a new deck they built for a resident. Pictured: Brad Lyon and Steve Hester.

Ashland’s Repair Affair has been a fixture in this north-eastern Kentucky community since 2001, bringing together volunteers from across the area to perform various home repairs for low-income homeowners who are elderly or disabled.

“What I love most about this event is the tangible impact we’re making on the lives of those in our community who otherwise may not have the physical or financial means to do it themselves,” said Nicci Triche, a Refining Analytical Development (RAD) supervisor at Marathon Petroleum.

Triche helped coordinate Marathon Petroleum’s group this year, which included employees from RAD, as well as the Catlettsburg refinery and area terminals. The 2023 event had wet conditions throughout due to rain that started the night before and never let up.

Steve Hester and Josh Homan working on the replacement ramp.
The completed handicap ramp Marathon employees, Steve Hester, Nicci Triche, and Josh Homan, helped repair as a part of the 2023 Repair Affair, a few weekends after the actual event.
Completed handicap ramp repaired by volunteers from Marathon Petroleum in Ashland, Kentucky.

“Our philosophy has always been we volunteer rain or shine, especially when the work we’re doing is helping someone in our community,” Triche said. “Words cannot express how worthwhile this cause is and how much it means to the people we’re grateful to be helping.”

Megan Celedonia and Elona Dunaway removing yard debris from a resident’s property.

This year, the combined team from Marathon Petroleum adopted four homes across Ashland. The volunteers addressed a variety of needs including repairing a disabled resident's wheelchair ramp and replacing another resident’s back deck. Other projects included debris removal and fence repair.

“We know the weather was not in our favor, so the fact so many people still came out to support this community-wide effort, while helping so many people in the process—that’s what it’s all about,” said DJ Rymer, the event’s coordinator for the City of Ashland.

A few weekends after the event, several employees returned to a property to replace the homeowner’s handicap ramp that had fallen into disrepair and made it difficult and dangerous for the residents to safely use.