Time on your hands? A skill to share? Want to help out someone who can”™t make necessary home repairs due to illness or financial crisis? Rebuild Together may be right up your alley.
More than 150 people turned out Oct. 16 for Dutchess County”™s Rebuild Together Day, making repairs for homeowners in need. From the disabled, the elderly and veterans, to families in crisis due to the recession, volunteers worked on several projects throughout the day.
Attorney Omer Gil of Iseman, Cunningham, Riester and Hyde L.L.P. in Poughkeepsie is a Young Leaders United co-chair and a regular Rebuild Together volunteer. “Today, we”™re laying some cement, which I have never done before and eventually I”™m going to have to do it at my own house. So you get the experience from working with this great group and the satisfaction of knowing you”™ve helped another family that can”™t do the work themselves.”
Rebuilding Together is part of a nationwide nonprofit that strives to help struggling homeowners make needed repairs for free. The projects were supported by local businesses including Salisbury Bank, Meyer Contracting, and TD Bank. National sponsors included Sears Holding Corp. and the Heroes at Home program, created in partnership with Rebuilding Together to assist military families facing hardship.
“It was like something coming out of heaven because it was like a bunch of angels here today all doing their little thing,” said homeowner Shirley Feldman, the widow of a U.S. Navy veteran who is recovering from a recent injury. “I will never be able to forget them or repay them because what they did for me today is unbelievable. People just don”™t know that there are so many good people left in this world. There are bad ones, but there are much more good ones.”
Chris Meyer, president of Meyer Contracting and a frequent sponsor and volunteer, said, “I like the opportunity to meet and mingle with the homeowners and all the volunteers. It”™s just a fun thing to do. Most of the owners are very appreciative throughout the process, and it”™s a great feeling to give back to the community.”
