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When the Friends of Historic Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington took over the property in 2009, many volunteers came out of the woodwork. Welder Brian Bachman came out of the metalwork.
Bachman, owner of Graydie Welding in Camden, donates his talents to nonprofits and others in need. So when it comes to handling
certain work on the cemetery grounds—like building floor vents and window guards—Bachman is the Friends’ man of steel.
“He repaired some of the iron fence that surrounds the cemetery,” says Friends board president Lee Anderson. “He also did work on the public mausoleum. We paid for materials and Brian did labor, design and building. He had a truck, tools and the willingness to do this as a volunteer.” Bachman was recognized last year as one of the Friends’ key partners.
Along with waiving his hourly rate for nonprofits, Bachman offers to install handicap ramps and railings and repair fire escapes for those in need. He also fabricates garden structures like trellises, arbors and decorative plant stands and donates them to nonprofits to be auctioned for fundraisers.
Bachman admits he started donating his time to publicize his business, but now he simply enjoys doing good things.
“When you’re running a business, if people know you do good things, they cut you some slack,” Bachman says. “I don’t need the business for sure, but I want to do as much as I can.” (graydiewelding.com)
—Drew Ostroski