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Rebuilding Together repairing, improving area homes - SSNL

4/26/2012 - South Side Leader
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By Maria Lindsay

Volunteers at the 2010 Rebuilding Day completed many outdoor and indoor projects at homes for Summit County residents in need, including seeding lawns, as shown above at one Coventry Township home during the 2010 event.
Photo: Lew Stamp
GREATER AKRON — Rebuilding Together Greater Cuyahoga Valley, an affiliate of Rebuilding Together Inc., will bring community members together to provide home repairs and modifications to 14 homes in Summit, Stark and Portage counties. On April 28, more than 400 volunteers representing dozens of organizations will gather to help rebuild homes in Akron, Springfield and Kent.

From the South Side News Leader coverage area, a home on Samuel Road in Springfield will be involved in the effort.

As part of its 17th annual Rebuilding Day, more than $40,000 in donated volunteer labor and an additional $40,000 in materials and contracted labor will be invested on behalf of those in need living in these homes, according to Rebuilding Together officials.

The volunteers and donors include: the city of Akron; Dominion East Ohio; the Nationwide Foundation; Lowe’s; Summit County Executive Russell Pry; the Akron Area Board of Realtors®; the Home Builders Association Serving Portage and Summit Counties; Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund; Church of Our Savior; Westminster Presbyterian Church; Home Depot; the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority; First Congregational Church of Tallmadge; the First Church of God of Tallmadge; GPD Group; Fifth Third Bank; Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Metis Construction; Sherwin Williams; students from Kent State University and The University of Akron; and BJ’s Charitable Foundation.

“The housing needs of our low-income elderly and disabled citizens are growing exponentially every day,” said Rebuilding Together Executive Director Paul Holm. “Rebuilding Day captures the spirit of what Rebuilding Together is all about. It brings together donors, corporations, civic groups, government and religious organizations to better the lives and homes of people who really need our help.”

According to Rebuilding Together officials, while on-site, volunteers will paint; declutter; landscape; repair flooring; install windows, gutters and downspouts; complete plumbing and electrical repairs; and more. In addition, volunteers will use “green” practices such as taking lead-based paint precautions, recycling organic yard waste, donating used clothes to local shelters, properly disposing of old household chemicals, performing basic weatherization tasks and limiting the amount of debris sent to local landfills.

“We believe in leaving the homeowner and the home better off than when we arrived,” said Holm. “Properly recycling or disposing of waste helps take care of everyone else at the same time.”

Many volunteer groups helped to raise funds for the April 28 event through Rebuilding Together’s Bowl to Rebuild event held March 31 and through other individual group events, according to Rebuilding Together officials.

“We could not continue this great tradition without the commitment and hard work of each of our volunteer groups. They are the true heroes of our community,” said Holm.

In addition to work performed in local communities, more than 175 other Rebuilding Together affiliates are also participating in National Rebuilding Day, according to Rebuilding Together officials.

Rebuilding Together works to preserve affordable home ownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost, according to Rebuilding Together officials. The organization also has programs dedicated to energy efficiency, veteran’s housing, aging in place and Gulf Coast reconstruction.

Rebuilding Together Greater Cuyahoga Valley has been operating in Summit County for 16 years, utilizing the support of thousands of volunteers and serving more than 1,800 homeowners, according to Rebuilding Together officials. For more information, visit www.rebuildingtogether-sc.org or call 330-773-4100.

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