Apr 24 2007
Saturday, April 28, 2007 marks Rebuilding Together's annual signature event, National Rebuilding Day, when tens of thousands of volunteers across the country will team up with Rebuilding Together's affiliates to repair homes, revitalize communities, and restore the lives of thousands of homeowners in need.
Rebuilding Together's mission is to help those with the greatest need -- low-income elderly, disabled, and families with children -- live in safe, warm, and dry houses. "Our nation has more than 24 million low-income homeowners, many of whom must make difficult daily decisions -- whether to buy food or medicine, whether to have heat or electricity. Too often, they cannot care for their homes," stated Gary Officer, president & CEO of Rebuilding Together. "This is where our national network of volunteers comes into action."
Heralding from every walk of life, volunteers pick up hammers and paint brushes, equip themselves with every tool necessary to make needed repairs for those unable to do it themselves. Among the thousands of homeowners who will be helped on Saturday, April 28th are: Rebuilding Together Tulsa, OK - Fourteen homeowners with limited income will receive repairs to their homes in this community. Mrs. Chihuahua is one of them. In March 2007, Ms. Chihuahua's husband lost his long battle with cardiac illness, but he was very relieved that his home's repairs were being taken care of for his wife. Security was a major concern for the Chihuahua's. The back wall of their home is all windows and has a glass door with a faulty lock. Volunteers will remove the old windows, close in lower windows creating a barrier wall, add two new storm windows, a new steel door, and deadbolt set. The project will be finished off by installing, paneling, and painting the interior and siding on the exterior.
Rebuilding Together Bergen County, NJ - A shelter at the First Presbyterian Church in Carlstadt, NJ is going to be turned over to the Inter-Religious Fellowship which will select a homeless family to live in the shelter for two years while learning skills like money management, English classes, tutoring for the children, and job skills training. The shelter will be gutted and the local Electrical Union will completely rewire the home. The leadership team and volunteers will install sheet rock, new appliances and update the bathroom and kitchen. In addition, volunteers from the Bergen Harley-Davidson will rehab the local Men's Homeless Shelter.
Rebuilding Together Sacramento, CA - Volunteers will assemble at 17 homes throughout this community including the home of man who was gunned down while picking up pizza for his family, now a quadriplegic. Modifications enabling him to better navigate his home and live with greater dignity and ease are in store for this homeowner. Rebuilding Together Richmond, VA - An entire community of 50 homes in the Highland Park historic district will become energy efficient when the day is over. Insulation, weatherization, door and window replacements are just a few of the repairs that will be completed.