On Saturday, April 30th, in true neighbor-helping-neighbor spirit, more than 600 volunteers from over 30 sponsoring companies and civic organizations pitched in on National Rebuilding Day to provide repairs for scores of homes and community facilities. During this one-day event, volunteers fanned out across San Mateo and northern Santa Clara counties to complete 20 different repair projects.
Volunteer teams tackled a variety of improvements including painting, debris removal, electrical and accessibility upgrades, landscaping, grab bar and handrail installation, and safety modifications to create safer and healthier homes. Thanks to guidance and oversight from the project Captains, even first-time volunteers with minimal home repair experience were able to make a difference.
Rebuilding Together Peninsula (RTP) Executive Director, Melissa Lukin, described the annual event as one that creates a “lasting impression and life-changing experience for volunteers and the people we help while strengthening the communities where we all live and work.” For the participating volunteer teams, National Rebuilding Day delivers a meaningful team bonding experience that brings the business and civic community together to make a concrete, long-lasting difference.
Companies such as Rambus, Inc., a National Rebuilding Day veteran sponsor, have participated in the event many times. This year, the Rambus team helped a homeowner named Dara with critical mobility-related improvements. Living on a fixed income, she lacked the resources to address home modifications for family members with physical impairments, and so was grateful for the support from RTP and the team from Rambus.
Volunteers made a number of safety and accessibility improvements at Dara’s home, including installing a wheelchair ramp. Dara stated, “Since my family members are getting older and getting disabilities, I have to make this house functional for them. Rebuilding Together Peninsula helped me a lot to make this happen in a short period of time.” The Rambus team was thrilled to support Dara to make her home safer for her family.