“There’s no other volunteer experience where you can directly impact someone’s life in one day as much as you can with RTP.” Those are the words of Repair Captain Carl Landers explaining how National Rebuilding Day (NRD) volunteers power RTP’s mission to repair homes, revitalize communities, and rebuild lives.
This year’s [Re]building Day efforts extended from late March through early May, with the bulk of the projects occurring on April 29, our traditional NRD. In total, we serviced 14 homes and 9 community facilities, thanks to the hard work of more than 500 volunteers from 30 corporate and community sponsors. The upgrades and repairs took place throughout San Mateo County and included project sites from Pacifica to East Palo Alto. Projects ranged from fence repair, painting, landscaping, and debris removal to warehouse renovation and overall facility rehabilitation.
Homeowners throughout San Mateo County benefited greatly from the generosity and skill of so many. “I was feeling anxious about having people come, but it was like seeing angels dropping out of the sky when (the volunteers) came,” said Rose, a homeowner and project recipient in East Palo Alto. “The way they work as a team–it was magical.”
National Rebuilding Day was a reminder of the important role RTP plays in preserving affordable homeownership and maintaining the diverse fabric of the communities we serve. Equally evident was the unique team building experience volunteers get from spending the day with work colleagues. Here’s a special shout out to our dedicated volunteers and sponsors!