Poughkeepsie, NY –Rebuilding Together Dutchess County held their Fall Rebuilding Day on October 26, as part of their Rebuilding Day Program. They repaired two additional homes, completing a total of 13 homes in 2013.

Rebuilding Together Dutchess County (RTDC) repairs and modifies homes for low-income homeowners at no cost to them, to return them to a warm, safe, and dry environment. Sponsorship teams from Antalek & Moore Insurance Agency and IBM completed the work and participated in the largest national day of service, Make a Difference Day.

Those RTDC served on Fall Rebuilding Day included an 82 year old widow of a WWII and Korean War veteran and her son who lost his job over three years ago. Repairs to their Town of Wappinger home of 52 years were focused on keeping the elderly homeowner safe and independent including repairing a walkway, replacing the roof and replacing aging and drafty doors. The second project in East Fishkill was for a family with a disabled mom and three school aged children. Repairs included building new basement stairs and handrails, addressing moisture issues and repairing water damage on the interior of the home, replacing a door and repairing a sagging porch and roof.

"We are so pleased to be able to serve more of our neighbors in need," said RTDC Executive Director Christina Boryk. "Every additional homeowner that we help live in  a warm, safe, and dry environment is a success for our organization, our partners, and our community."

"When I asked for a new roof, I never thought my dreams would actually come true," said the Town of Wappinger resident served by RTDC on Fall Rebuilding Day. "It's been a wonderful experience."

Rebuilding Together Dutchess County along with nearly 200 fellow Rebuilding Together affiliates across the country and the help of hundreds of thousands of volunteers rehabilitate and improve the homes of low-income Americans at no cost. Recipients of services include the elderly, disabled, military veterans and families in need.

Rebuilding Together Dutchess County also completed National Rebuilding Day in April, serving 8 homeowners across the county with over 300 volunteers working to help their neighbors in need and began a Handyman Program this year to address smaller-scope projects throughout the year.

Fall Rebuilding Day 2013

An 82 year old widow of a WWII and Korean War veteran has lived in her home for 52 years and recently had to replace her furnace which she is still paying off. Because of this, her 20 year old roof needed to be replaced but she simply could not afford it. Prior to Fall Rebuilding Day, a team replaced her leaky roof. On Fall Rebuilding Day, a team repaired the tripping hazard in her walkway, weatherstripped her doors and windows to cut down on her energy bills, converted the knobs on her doors to levers for easier access, and replaced and painted the fascia. Another team will also be donating and installing new gutters to prevent further leaks and water issues.

A family of 5, with a disabled mother and a recently unemployed father needed help with the upkeep of their home. Their basement was inaccessible, so an RTDC team on Fall Rebuilding Day built stairs and handrails to increase access.  Additionally they repaired the sagging front porch, replaced a sliding glass door and painted trim. They also resolved the drainage/moisutre issues at the chimney and downspouts and repaired interior water damage.

National Rebuilding Day 2013

This disabled Marine Corps veteran who served our country during the Vietnam War is so active in his local American Legion, helping other veterans in the community, he never looked for assistance for himself. Luckily, RTDC was able to help serve someone who has kept our country safe. RTDC replaced windows in his home to make it less drafty and more energy efficient. New flooring was installed to reduce tripping hazards and make the home safer.

 A disabled single father of a teenage daughter could not physically perform the repairs necessary to keep his home safe for his family. Drafty and damp, the home needed new windows and many other repairs. Volunteers during National Rebuilding Day replaced all of his windows to make them energy efficient, replaced his front and storm doors, repaired unsafe handrails, replaced faulty light fixtures, and repointed the chimney among other repairs. "It's unbelievable! I'm just blown away looking at my new windows! It's like a dream come true, I can't stop looking at them."

 A single mother with two disabled adult children, this Poughkeepsie homeowner could not afford to make her home safer and more independent for her children to live in. "If I didn't have this help, I wouldn't be able to do this on my own. It looks like a brand new house!" she said about the repairs completed on National Rebuilding Day. Volunteers replaced windows, painted the exterior of the home, and made the bathroom more accessible for her children. These repairs will create a significantly more independent and safe home for the entire family for years to come.

This Wappingers Falls homeowner certainly did not have the ability or money to repair his home as necessary. Luckily, volunteers were able to perform major plumbing repairs, repair a leaky roof, install safer handrails, and drastically improve the lighting in the home so that he could be much safer. Without these repairs, this homeowner was not living in a safe and independent environment, and with the help of the volunteers on National Rebuilding Day he can now live safely for years to come. "I don't know what I would have done if I didn't get this help. All these people are like angels from heaven."

 An elderly Navy veteran and his disabled wife simply could not stay in their home any longer without long overdue repairs. Much of the home was rotten or falling apart and was a very unsafe living environment. During National Rebuilding Day, volunteers were able to tear off and replace the roof, replace much of the rotten lumber and framing, replace broken light fixtures, repair broken windows, fix a sagging bathroom ceiling, and add grab bars and hand rails (to just name a few of the repairs they completed). The home is once more warm, safe, and dry for the elderly homeowners. "It is an amazing project and we are very grateful to be chosen and to have these top notch people helping out," said the homeowner.

This Hyde Park widow of a veteran was concerned about the state of her home at her advanced age.  A leaky roof, rotten fascia, broken gutters, and faulty electrical issues were some of the concerns facing her on a daily basis. With the help of her volunteer team over National Rebuilding Day she was able to receive a brand new roof, new gutters, new electric work, new fascia boards, a replaced window pane, and all new interior painting. "I still can't believe that this is happening. I still can't believe it's real!"

An elderly Hopewell Junction homeowner tried to keep up with the repairs on her home, but some were just out of her reach. Accessibility and independence were kept in mind when performing the repairs at her home. A walkway was reset to avoid a tripping hazard, energy efficient windows were installed, the bathroom was repaired to create a safer environment, among other repairs. These modifications will significantly increase the safety and independence of the homeowner for many years. "Thank you, many times thank you. I appreciate that so many people are willing to help."

A Wingdale homeowner could certainly not do the repairs to her home that were necessary. Luckily, a team from Rebuilding Together came and replaced her decking and handrails, repaired a cracked concrete step, repaired some roofing on her home, and painted her front porch. Especially for elderly homeowners, accessibility repairs such as handrails and replacing uneven decking can make a huge difference in a homeowner's independence.