Rebuilding Together AmeriCorps Celebrates the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Hazelwood community in Pittsburgh to benefit from renovations of eight homes for those in need

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of ServiceWashington, D.C. – January 13, 2014 – Members and alumni of Rebuilding Together’s AmeriCorps program, CapacityCorps, will observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 20 through 22 by rebuilding homes and revitalizing communities in Pittsburgh.

In honor of the Martin Luther King Day of Service, 65 AmeriCorps members serving with Rebuilding Together, along with 15 program alumni, will come together from 25 different states to perform critical home repair services for veteran and senior citizen homeowners in need. More than just one day, these members and alumni will provide a full week of service to the Hazelwood neighborhood in Pittsburgh.

The event is being hosted by Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, an organization that repairs and renovates the homes of low-income, elderly homeowners, military veterans, and individuals with permanent physical disabilities.  Since 1993, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh has invested more than $9 million of free repairs in 2,060 Allegheny County homes.

Rebuilding Together AmeriCorps members and alumni, serving a collective 3,000 hours, will repair eight homes for homeowners in need. The projects will be clustered together for maximum impact to improve the homes and lives of Hazelwood residents.

“Hazelwood has struggled for decades since the collapse of the steel industry that lined its waterfront,” said Steve Hellner-Burris, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh.  “With new development projects now finally taking shape, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh is proud to partner with Hazelwood community leaders to stabilize the housing conditions for the long-time residents so that they can stay safely in their homes and realize the benefits of an improving neighborhood economy.”

Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps is a National*Direct AmeriCorps program with 65 full-time members. Rebuilding Together AmeriCorps members build the capacity of grassroots Rebuilding Together programs so that they become sustainable, effective and efficient in helping additional low-income homeowners in need. As developing housing preservation leaders, these AmeriCorps members serve essential roles in building the capacity of their host sites in areas such as recruiting and managing volunteers, performing direct home repairs, building community partnerships, and creating new programs.

Learn more about Rebuilding Together CapacityCorps program

Learn more about Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh

Get involved with Rebuilding Together

About Rebuilding Together:

Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes Community Starts at Home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our 187 local affiliates complete more than 10,000 rebuild projects a year thanks to the efforts of 100,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us — visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

Rebuilding Together OKC Dump Truck

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Thanks to a donation by Copeland Construction, Rebuilding Together OKC is now a proud owner of our very own dump truck! With our homeowners in mind, we are selling the dump truck (along with other assets) to purchase a trailer, which will be used to keep seniors safe, warm and dry!

Interested in our dump truck? Give us a call – 405.607.0464

Rebuilding Together OKC is currently hiring!

Construction Coordinator – They will make day to day decisions, under the supervision of the Program Manager pertaining to the organization, logistics and completion of all Year-round teams, Rebuilding Day teams, and Weatherization activities.

To learn more view the full Construction Coordinator job description here!


Development Director
– The Development Director is responsible for the management of all fund raising functions as well as overseeing all marketing and public relations activities for Rebuilding Together OKC.

Think you may be interested!? See the complete Development Director job description here!

Executive Assistant – This position is responsible for assisting the Executive Director, staff and clients of Rebuilding Together OKC to carry out its mission and goals.  They will serve in a supportive capacity with primary responsibilities in office management and reception.

If this is the job for you, check out the Executive Assistant job description here!

66-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER OF FOUR, LINDA STEWART, RECEIVES FREE HEATING SYSTEM

Tyler Outdoor Advertising, Drabek and Hill, and Rebuilding Together OKC keep home warm for grandmother and four grandchildren this holiday season

Linda S.

Oklahoma City – Linda Stewart’s home and heart has been filled with warmth this Christmas season.  This week, Ms. Stewart won a free heating system from Drabek and Hill, in partnership with Tyler Outdoor Advertising and Rebuilding Together OKC.  Linda has lived in her Oklahoma City home for more than 30 years.  She is currently raising four grandchildren and desires to provide them with a safe and clean home.

Drabek & Hill and Rebuilding Together OKC were approached by Tyler Outdoor Advertising this year with the amazing opportunity of advertising a free heating or air conditioning system for homeowners that are in need.  Not only did Ms. Stewart win a heating system, but homeowners will have an additional opportunity to win a free air conditioning system in the upcoming spring season.  Oklahomans have allowed Drabek & Hill to provide them with Air Conditioning, Heating, and Plumbing for the past 53 years, and this is one of the ways the Drabek & Hill family would like to say “Thank You!”

Tyler Outdoor Advertising is honored to have the opportunity to give back to our community to better the lives of our children and families.  We strive to be a positive and productive member of our community; it is our community that makes us Tyler.  Joining with Drabek and Hill and Rebuilding Together OKC has been a pleasure.  We are thankful to have others who share the same determination as Tyler, and that is to better our community, one family at a time.

I Will Come Through This! (A Message from Robert and Mona)

Hello Jean and the “Rebuilding Together” team,

I just wanted to let you know how much Mona and I appreciate the high-rise toilet you had installed in our home, the bathtub grab-bars and the ramp connected to our front porch.

What an absolute blessing they are.

I’ll never forget the day in March, 2011 when I sat beside Mona in the neuro-surgeon’s office as she explained to Mona that she had from one to two months to live. The doctor gave Mona two options: (1) Check into a nursing home and let herself pass (die) within a month or two. (2) Have surgery in an attempt to remove the extremely large tumor pressing against her brain-stem with the possibility of not surviving the surgery.

I’m sitting next to her in a sweat, trying my best to comprehend what I just heard about my wife’s life coming to an end in a few days. Well, Mona wasn’t going to just die without a fight and she got a little huffy and looked the doctor in the eye and said, “Are you through being a smart aleck with all the negative talk?” (Yes, Mona actually said that.) The doctor said, “Mona, I’m obligated to be honest and frank with you about this.” Mona replied, “I know that, but just go ahead and schedule the surgery. I will come through this!”

Well, Mona’s determination resulted in her surviving the surgery and the doctor calls her a “Miracle Girl”. But, it hasn’t been easy and Mona continues to have serious balance problems and some paralysis along with other issues and challenges connected with damage done by the tumor and two total hip replacements resulting from terrible falls also caused by the tumor.

With the huge hospital, doctor, prescription and other medical bills, the financial strain has been enormous. That makes the gifts from Rebuilding Together all the more appreciated.

Mona actually leans against the grab-bars when taking a shower to maintain balance. The high-rise toilet is really “perfect” for her. And, Mona now easily glides up and down the ramp with ease, whereas before, she had to carefully navigate the high steps and strain getting up and down to the front porch.

Just wanted to say a huge THANK YOU!

Robert and Mona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sincerely, Robert and Mona