Safe at Home Volunteers who made safety and accessibility modifications for several homeowners.

Cross of Glory Volunteer Team who worked on an REO home on April 20^th.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered with us that day!  We look forward to working with you again next year!

Karla, one of the homeowners we helped that day wrote, “I want to thank you and the Opus volunteers for all their hard work and positive spirit. I can’t believe what they were able to accomplish in such a short time. I am so happy with how beautiful the tile and painting turned out. The guys upstairs gave their all in a stupendous effort, too. How blessed we have been!…I am summoning up energy I never thought I had. My boss said she noticed a distinct difference in me. That’s what hope and help will do for a person. I never received a gift like this in my life. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

We also received a thank you from Bill, another homeowner we helped, who wrote, “Thank you a million times over! This is FANTABULOUS! The work you have done today is something I have been trying to get done for a long time. It is so hard for me to find the words to express my gratitude. If my legs would hold me up, I would be dancing in the street.”

Thank you to all of the volunteers who worked hard to provide repairs for these families!  And, thank you to Minneapolis Ward 8 Council Member Elizabeth Glidden and President & CEO of Opus Holdings, Inc. Tim Murnane, who also joined us that day!

HGTV personality and Carter’s Kids founder, Carter Oosterhouse, worked with volunteers on May 2^nd at the playground project; and the project culminated with a ribbon-cutting celebration later that day.  Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner of MN Housing Mary Tingerthal, Council Member Russ Stark, and Deputy Superintendent of St. Paul Public Schools Michael Baumann also joined us for the ribbon-cutting celebration.

Jill Gebeke, Principal at Chelsea Heights, sent us a thank you note that said, “The playground is absolutely awesome!!! I was outside at recess today with the kids, and it was absolute chaos (in a good way). We couldn’t have done this without your Rebuilding Together team. On behalf of the students and staff, thank you.”

We also received this thank you note from Lori, one of the homeowners we helped through this project, “Thank you doesn’t even begin to reflect all that we feel! You have put in exhausting hours once our kitchen project got going…Thank you for making it happen! We have been so impressed with everyone we have met from Rebuilding Together. I have bragged about how everyone has been while interacting with my family…including my dog! It says a lot about who you are as individuals. You really care about the families you help!”

We would like to thank everyone who came together to make this project possible, especially the volunteers who worked hard despite the rain, snow and cold weather.  We’d also like to thank Lowe’s, Carter’s Kids, the Chelsea Heights Parent Teacher Organization, MN Housing Finance Agency, Metropolitan Council, Wells Fargo, Comcast, McGough Construction, Damon Farber Associates, Valspar, Stouts/Chianti Grille, On Site Sanitation, Linders, Tubby Smith Foundation, Mortenson Construction, Como Park Lutheran, St. Paul Bagelry, Davanni’s, Saint Paul Public Schools, City of Saint Paul, Saint Paul STAR Program, Minnesota Wisconsin Playground, Builders Association of the Twin Cities, Citi Cargo & Storage, Rainbow Foods, and Sinclair Recreation who contributed to this project.

Thank you to Comcast for partnering with us on these projects!

Check out our time-lapse video of the work volunteers completed at the Chelsea Heights Elementary School here.

We are recruiting volunteers to help with multiple home repair projects on May 11^th in Minneapolis and St. Paul.  For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please email us at volunteerservices@rebuildingtogether-twincities.org.

Dunwoody Students who worked on our REO home on March 22^nd

The Rudelius/Spring Break Volunteer Team who helped to organize and paint our office/warehouse on March 29^th

Conservation Corps of MN Volunteers who created some amazing rain barrels on April 1^st that will be used at an upcoming community build project

Honeywell Retired Volunteer Program volunteers who pre-built several ramps on March 25-26th and April 11^th for homeowners who are living with a disability

Safe at Home Volunteers who made safety and accessibility modifications for several homeowners

Resurrection Lutheran Church Volunteer Team who made repairs for a South Minneapolis homeowner on April 7^th

Over the last few months, we have completed the design of four projects and the pre-build on two of the designs that we will be installing later this summer.   During our first pre-build we had nine retired Honeywell volunteers work in our warehouse to construct the ramp sections, and we are hoping for at least that many to return for our future projects.

Paul Parrish, one of the lead volunteers on this project, said, “If you were to average the age of the HRVP Ramp team, it would assuredly be in the low to mid 70s. However, in addition to the wisdom of this old man’s team, there is a wealth of talent and skill for tackling the tough job sites. From site reviews, design, prefabrication to installation, this team of men has done an outstanding turn-key effort. Without fail, there are unexpected site conditions, i.e. allowances for hose bibs, buried cable, limited space, un-level house and a myriad of other site issues, which have been recognized as challenges and each time solved. Maybe it is the realization that sooner rather than later, we old men may be in the need of a ramp; but whatever it may be, the camaraderie and enjoyment of working together is always present.”

One of the homeowners we are helping through this partnership is Pat, an incredibly kind and humble older woman, who has mobility complications and lives in South Minneapolis. She is always incredibly welcoming and gracious with the volunteers.  We are very excited to return later this spring to install her ramp, making it easier for her to get in and out of her home.

This partnership has allowed us to increase our efficiency when collaborating with homeowners and has expanded our overall capacity to deliver these types of services.  Thank you to HRVP for working with us on this important program!