Rebuilding Together accepting applications for National Rebuilding Day

Date: 12/16/2009

SPRINGFIELD Rebuilding Together, the nation's largest volunteer home repair organization and non-profit working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities, is locally seeking applications.

Rebuilding Together's Springfield affiliate has been in existence since 1992 and just opened its first office at the Scibelli Enterprise Center in the Springfield Technical Community College's (STCC) Technology Park in July. The organization provides free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income Americans that consist of the elderly, disabled, military veterans and families with children all year long.

The organization is now preparing for its annual signature event called "National Rebuilding Day," where over 300 local and 250,000 national volunteers gather to repair and restore homes and nonprofit facilities, revitalize entire communities and make a lasting impression on the families, individuals and neighborhoods who are helped. It is now accepting applications by either calling the office or downloading it from its Web site. National Rebuilding Day will occur on April 24, 2010.

According to Rebuilding Together Springfield's Executive Director, Colleen Loveless, every week, dozens of low-income homeowners call the Springfield office for the very first time, asking for help. "In fact, demand is up by 62 percent this year. With your help we can assist an elderly or disabled homeowner 'age in place' so that they do not have to go to a nursing home which would cost taxpayers over $66,000 per year. We are also able, for example, to help repair any low-income homeowner's roof so they no longer need buckets to catch the rain in their own home and save on their heating and utility costs.

"While we are proud to be able to increase the number of homeowners that we are able to assist, without your support, hundreds who are asking for help will be turned away," she continued.

Rebuilding Together has earned a four-star rating, the highest rating by "Charity Navigator," America's largest independent evaluator of charities. For more information on Rebuilding Together, to make a donation, volunteer or receive an application, contact Loveless at 788-0014 or by e-mail at Colleen.Loveless@rebuildingtogetherspringfield.org.