MR. FIX-IT HELPS OUT; HANDYMAN LOVES LENDING HAND

Chuck Gudermuth popped in the SADI office in Cape Girardeau last week and immediately the requests began.

Jean Bland, who works in the office, asked if he would replace the water bottle. "It's too heavy for me to lift," she explained.

Gudermuth took off the empty bottle and lifted the new one into place.

Then Miki Gudermuth, executive director of SADI and Chuck's wife, pointed to an electric wheelchair sitting in the corner of the meeting room. "Have you had a chance to check that out yet?" she asked.

Gudermuth got out a small tool box and gave the wheelchair a quick look. The chair needed a more complete diagnosis before it could be given to anyone, he determined.

"Sometimes I worry that we're taking advantage of him," Miki Gudermuth confided. "But he doesn't seem to mind."

In fact, Chuck Gudermuth loves it.

"I guess I'm Mr. Fix-it," he said. "Everyone needs a handyman."

"He is always there when we need him, with a smile on his face and a kind word for all," Bland said.

Over the past 12 years, Gudermuth has been a volunteer with SADI, the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence. The organization was started by his wife.

He repairs wheelchairs and van lifts for persons with disabilities. Often these individuals have limited incomes. Gudermuth doesn't charge for the work he does.

Electric wheelchairs and other assistive devices are donated "as is." Gudermuth fixes them so they can be given to other persons with disabilities.

He put rollers on the large meeting table, so it could be moved more easily.

He puts ice melt on the sidewalk and parking lot so consumers and employees don't fall.

He fixes the typewriters, replaces light bulbs, sets up tables and chairs and takes them down again.

"I just can't say no," he joked.

"Chuck has a great attitude," said Chuck Henzi with SADI. "Nothing is to big for him to do. He fills so many gaps of need for us. He gives and gives, always with a smile."

In addition to working with the SADI group, Gudermuth is active in his church. He leads an Adventure's group of eight fourth-grade children. To them, he is "Mr. Chuck." He teaches them about living a spiritual and good life and how to help others.

He also stands in for Santa Claus with the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. He sits for hours in a hot costume holding little dogs and cats as they claw, bite and lick and get their picture taken.

But it is SADI that gets much of his time.

"Chuck devotes a great deal of his free time to helping both the staff and consumers here at SADI," said Kristal Berkbigler. "Often this devotion of time is behind the scenes and never truly recognized."

Gudermuth doesn't mind is no one notices the work he does.

"If you work for rewards on earth, that is all you get. I'm waiting for my rewards in heaven."