On Saturday, April 26th, over 500 volunteers participated in a transformational day of community service to support homeowners in need in Baltimore. This annual event called Rebuilding Day is organized and spearheaded by Rebuilding Together Baltimore (RTB), a non-profit organization with a mission of preserving affordable homeownership by providing critical repairs for low-income homeowners at no charge. Rebuilding Day 2014 marks the organization’s 25th annual day of service, and coincidentally, volunteer teams served 25 homeowners as well as performed many community-driven beautification and greening projects.
These dedicated volunteers served sixteen senior citizens in addition to five people with disabilities, nine families with children and one veteran in two target neighborhoods: Mid-Govans in North Baltimore City and North Point Village in Baltimore County. Teams from local and regional firms, churches, and community associations focused on delivering home repairs and modifications that would improve quality of life. Many repairs included home safety modifications and energy efficiency upgrades.
On Rebuilding Day, volunteers constructed a new wheel chair ramp at the home of Mr. William Felton, a Navy veteran and amputee. The team also resurfaced Mr. Felton’s driveway with several tons of compacted gravel to improve his access to the home. “On a rainy day, I’d be stuck in the house. Now I can run out and buy my groceries whenever I need,” said Felton.
RTB Executive Director, Bonnie Bessor, explains how volunteers are able to achieve these successful outcomes for homeowners on Rebuilding Day, “By leveraging public and private sponsorships, in-kind donations, and mobilizing skilled volunteers, Rebuilding Together Baltimore directly enhances the safety and health of homeowners in need.”
RTB is a member of the Rebuilding Together Affiliate Network which consists of over 180 chapters, located throughout the United States. Collectively, Rebuilding Together has completed work on more than 100,000 homes across the nation. With the help of 3.4 million volunteers, Rebuilding Together has delivered over $1.3 billion in market value since its founding. Rebuilding Together continues it’s mission of seeking to provide a safe and healthy home for every person.
“RTB is proud have to served homeowners in Baltimore for 25 years and hopes to continue this endeavor for years to come,” said Bessor.
Check out more photos from Rebuilding Day 2014 in Mid-Govans on our Facebook page!
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