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Paying it forward
Mantecan gives back to community
BLINDS--Free-Service-Pic
Mike Lencioni of MLI Shutters and Blinds shows some of the easy repairs that can be made to damaged shutters. - photo by JASON CAMPBELL

Business has been good to Mike Lencioni over the last year.

Lencioni, the owner of MLI Shutters and Blinds, has not only expanded his commercial space but added a builder division to his business that works directly with KB Homes. He’s also in the process of transforming the window outfitting establishment into a complete home remodel center.

So, in his eyes, it’s only natural that he gives back to the people that have given to him. And that means offering free shutter and blind repairs for seniors, active-duty military personnel and veterans from now through the holidays.

“I believe that since I make my living here in the community, it’s only right to give back to that community,” he said. “There are a lot of elderly people out there that can’t afford new blinds or shutters and don’t know what to do about them. Fortunately we’re a repair center and we can save them some money.”

And his generosity doesn’t stop there. Half of the money that he receives from regular shutters and blinds repairs during that same time frame will be split between the Second Harvest Food Bank and HOPE Ministries.

In order to qualify for the free repair you have to be a senior, veteran or active duty military, live or reside in the Manteca area and be able to bring your blinds or shutters in for service. Most of it can be done, Lencioni said, while customers wait.

It’s just another way for a people person like Lencioni to say thank you to a community that has allowed his business to grow over the last 17 years from a home-based outfit to what will soon be a home-remodel outfit.

“I’m blessed that I get the opportunity to meet tons and tons of people doing this, and most of them are nice. We’ve gotten so many customers from the Del Webb community and it’s nice to be able to meet and talk with them,” he said. “I don’t see this is a job. This is fun for me – I get up in the morning and say, ‘let’s see what today brings.’

“This is a chance to give back to the people who make that possible, and I enjoy that.”

MLI Shutters and Blinds is located at 2343 W. Yosemite Ave., and is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To find out more about the shutters and blinds repair program, call 825-1400.