National Rebuilding Together Month Helps Local Seniors
APRIL IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER MONTH
April 10, 2024 at 5:04 p.m.
(left) "Rebuilding Together Seattle" volunteers connect with a delighted homeowner during a Spring Rebuilding Day event, photo courtesy Rebuilding Together Seattle.
(right) This year, "Rebuilding Together South Sound" will help Robert, an 82-year-old disabled veteran who has lived in his home in Lakewood for over 17 years, photo courtesy Rebuilding Together South Sound.
Rebuilding Together has assisted local seniors to age safely in place in their own residences to ensure that their homes are safe and accessible. This includes not only single-family homes, but also condos and apartments that are owned by people who meet the program requirements. In addition to helping vulnerable low-income homeowners, the program also serves nonprofit facilities.
Since 1973, this annual month-long call to volunteers to help others in the community culminates on National Rebuilding Together Day -- the last Saturday of April.
Rebuilding Together South Sound reports that during the April 2024 Rebuilding Together project, "[We] will rebuild a total of 15 homes and one community center... Home repairs include replacing two roofs, repairing unsafe decks and porches, building ramps to improve home accessibility, and installing handrails to better the lives of families in need."
Other common tasks can include fixing windows that don't function properly, adding weather stripping to doors that are not properly sealed, or fixing leaky toilets and faucets.
Sam Wyllie-Cain of Rebuilding Together Seattle (RTS) reported to Experience in Action, the newsletter for King County's Retired and Senior Volunteer program: "We are a completely volunteer-led organization, which means that all of the repair projects get completed by volunteers." In addition to the National Rebuilding Together month in April, RTS provides services throughout the year through companies that organize groups of volunteers. "We take what a group is capable of and what is needed at a person's home, and we do a matching of the homeowner and the group," added Sam.
Another RTS program is called "Safe at Home." Applicants to the program are visited to check their home's condition against a 25-item Safe and Healthy Priorities list. "Does it have a fire extinguisher, or carbon monoxide or smoke detectors, Can you get in and out of your house safely? Do you have handrails that are attached? Do you have grab bars in your bathroom?"
Once an applicant is accepted into the program, their wait-time depends on how extensive the needed repairs are and the availability of volunteers, plus the volunteer's skillset. The homeowner's needs are assessed and then matched with a volunteer or a team. Sam reports that some of their volunteers might call to say, "Hey, I'm available in January. Do you have anything for me?"
Rebuilding Seattle South Sound reports: "Since our founding in 2001, Rebuilding Together South Sound has rehabilitated more than 1,335 homes and nonprofit facilities, reaching hundreds of disadvantaged members in our community. This effort involved more than 10,980 volunteers giving more than 112,400 hours of time and impacting an estimated 2,721 people with a market value of $10 million dollars in repairs."
For more information and to learn how you can support Rebuilding Together:
For Rebuilding Together South Sound, visit https://rebuildingtogetherss.org For Rebuilding Together Seattle, visit: https://www.rtseattle.org/
RSVP, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, pairs volunteers age 55 and older with organizations that are working to make their communities a better place. Volunteers through the RSVP program can choose their own schedule, and find organizations that can utilize their skills, interests and to support causes that you care about. To find an RSVP program in your area, visit the following link: https://servewashington.wa.gov/programs/americorps-seniors/retired-senior-volunteer-program
Local RSVP programs include:
Seattle/King County RSVP: https://www.solid-ground.org/ Pierce County RSVP: https://lcsnw.org/program/retired-senior-volunteer-program-rsvp/ Snohomish County RSVP: https://ccsww.org/
Seattle Public Utilities is inviting residents to spring into action in April and May by joining neighborhood stewardship activities in April and May like community clean-up projects, protecting trees and water quality, and other opportunities: https://atyourservice.seattle.gov/2024/04/02/spring-stewardship/
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