Rebuilding Together Boston Announces National Rebuilding Days from April 24th to April 25th

Boston, Mass. (April 24, 2015) – Starting on Friday, April 24th, Rebuilding Together Boston (RTB) celebrates its 24th annual National Rebuilding Days (NRD). More than 250 volunteers and civic leaders will engage in the rehabilitation of seven sites including homes in Hyde Park, Dorchester and Roslindale as well as the Blackstone Community Center in Boston’s South End.

Thanks to the generosity of Wells Fargo, Rebuilding Together Boston will start with renovations to the Blackstone Community Center on Friday, April 24th. The Blackstone Community Center is the only area center serving the needs of the South End and Lower Roxbury communities. Volunteers from Wells Fargo will help paint, fix ceilings in the Computer/ESL room, upgrade the entryway, replace carpeting in the seminar room, and fix the staff lounge by replacing outdated appliances and installing counters.

In September 2014, Wells Fargo donated $145,000 to support the development of the Julia Butler Teen Center for at-risk youth in the Lenox/Camden neighborhood. The same children who participate in the after-school programs at Julia Butler Teen Center also take advantage of community service at Blackstone.

Residential Site Locations and Descriptions:

RTB will lead renovation projects at six homes in Dorchester, Hyde Park and Roslindale on Saturday, April 25th.

Barbara, Hyde Park
A senior citizen who has lived in her home for more than 30 years, Barbara has been unable to keep up with needed home repairs since she injured her ankle last year. She also suffers from arthritis, and is unable to safely get up and down her stairs. Barbara is the mother of three sons who live out of state. Repairs and improvements to her home will include new railings on stairwells, new paint in living room, new fence and landscaping for yard. The project team will consist of volunteers from PNC/Harris Williams, Dr. Fix It, and additional groups.

Byron and family, Roslindale

Byron is an Iraq War Veteran who suffers from PSTD and food issues. He has lived in his home for many years with his wife and three daughters and has worked to maintain his home. The modest ranch home has no area for the children to play. Volunteers from Booz Allen Hamilton and Gilbane Building Company will renovate Byron’s basement to provide much needed room for the growing family. Repairs will include basement insulation; flooring and ceiling repair; and electrical and other repairs.

Curline and family, Hyde Park

Curline suffered a stroke and has been unable to speak, walk or care for herself. In order to get to rehab on a daily basis, she has to be carried into and out of her home by her family. She was recently readmitted to the hospital because of the severe weather conditions. Her family struggles to take care of her with their limited resources. Volunteers from Amramp and Walsh Brothers Construction will be working on her home to install a new handicap ramp, grab bars and safety rails in bathroom, retrofit bathroom to make it wheelchair accessible, interior painting, and exterior landscaping, clean-up and planting.

Jerry and family, Hyde Park

Jerry is a veteran who served in Kuwait and was blinded in a car accident when he returned home. He recently married his girlfriend, who has moved into his home that he shares with his mother who suffers from COPD. Jerry and his mom have lived in the home for more than 30 years. The project team from Skanska and other volunteer groups will tackle a scope that includes replacing allergenic carpeting with new flooring/carpeting, repairing water damage, extending railing from front porch to side walk, replacing storm doors and repairing a bathroom.

Mariette and Edy, Dorchester

Mariette and her husband Edy have lived in their home for ten years. Both of them suffer from health issues, as Mariette has arthritis and Edy suffers from diabetes. They are the retired parents of two adult children. A team of volunteers from Sea-Dar Construction will complete interior and exterior repairs including rebuilding a number of decks.

Myrline, Dorchester

This single mother has lived in her home for ten years. She has raised one child and lost her job and finds it difficult to make critical repairs on her home with her limited income and mortgage. Home repairs will include possible roof repair, insulation, back and front porch repairs, electrical repairs, ceiling patching and other projects. The volunteer team will consist of workers from Pro-Teck Valuation Services and Bullhorn, along with some additional individuals.

Patricia, Hyde Park

Patricia is a single mother in her 50s who has lived in her 85-year-old home with her family for 20 years. She has struggled to maintain her home as her income as a single mother has mostly gone to care for her now teenage children, one of whom suffers from mental illness. Her home needs a lot of attention and the scope of work on NRD will include installing two new kitchen windows, repairing doors, painting, and stabilizing wood gutters and downspouts. Volunteers will come from Bank of America and DiMella Shaffer. This project will take place at a later date due to weather and skilled-construction delay.

RTB is the local chapter of Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit with a vision of a safe and healthy home for every person. The above projects are part of “National Rebuilding Month” in conjunction with 166 Rebuilding Together affiliates across the country. More than 50,000 volunteers will serve close to 4,000 affiliate-led rebuild projects during the month of April.

About Rebuilding Together Boston:
Rebuilding Together Boston thanks the volunteers from the previously named organizations; from Starbucks Coffee Company; and the many skilled tradespersons from organizations such as Citywide Contracting and Preble Electric, who also make these renovations possible.

“The Rebuilding Together Boston volunteers and sponsors make National Rebuilding Day possible,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “Thanks to their hard work homeowners and nonprofit facilities will receive critical repairs that will strengthen our neighborhoods for the long term.”

“Following this historic and devastating winter weather, we’re especially pleased to have so many volunteers join together to help rebuild our communities with repairs to homes and facilities for those who cannot afford to maintain the sites due to financial and health-related concerns,” says Janice Walker, co-chair of the Board of Directors of Rebuilding Together Boston (depicted here).

“We very much appreciate the support of our sponsors and volunteers, who make it possible to deliver critical services to our community.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, there are 5.2 million homeowners who live in deteriorating, physically inadequate homes that threaten their well-being. Therefore, the demand for Rebuilding Together’s services continues to grow as limited income homeowners, faced with diminishing resources, must choose food and medicine over critical home repairs, choices that, over time, lead to crumbling foundations, dangerously sagging roofs, and windows and doors that can’t be secured for their own safety.

Since its founding in 1991, RTB has completed close to 400 projects with an estimated total value at nearly $7 million and engaged over 20,000 skilled and unskilled volunteers. Recipients are unable to pay for critical repairs because of hardships such as advancing age, medical emergencies, low fixed incomes, or stretched organizational budgets. The organization relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations as well as donated goods and services from local businesses. All work is performed at no charge. RTB’s goals are to provide a safe and healthy home for all those served and to improve their quality of life, including their security, warmth and independence. For more information, visit http://rtboston.org/.
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