Thanksgiving is this week, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank ALL of YOU for your support and hard work to help homeowners in need this year. We were able to help more homeowners than ever live independently in safe, healthy and warm homes – thanks to the donations and hard work of people like you. We wish you and your family a safe, healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you to everyone who supported Rebuilding Together Twin Cities at the inaugural Flannel Fling! We raised over $109,000 to support our efforts to ensure that homeowners in need can live in safe and healthy homes.
We had an absolutely incredible time with everyone who attended this wonderful event. Our hearts are so full of joy and hope when we think about the strength and commitment of our community to helping homeowners in need.
We would like to send a special thanks to our many sponsors listed below, Emcee Matt Muenster from DIY and HGTV Network’s “Bath Crashers” and the many volunteers who came together to ensure this event was a success!
SAVE THE DATE for the Second Annual Flannel Fling – October 21, 2016! We look forward to seeing you then!
Gold Sponsors: Coldwell Banker Burnet, UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans, and The Mosaic Company
Silver Sponsors: Mortenson Construction and Red Wing Shoes
Bronze Sponsors: Anchor Bank, N.A., Big Table Media, John and Nan Beard, Dunwoody College of Technology, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., Greiner Construction, Group 3 Marketing, Highland Bank, Tom Keljik and Jennifer Collins, Greg and Diane Krenz, Paul Mellblom and Peter Farstad, NRG Energy, Austin and Uche Onwualu, Paul and Kathleen Parrish, Parsons Electric, SeilerSchindel PLLC, Sutton’s Advanced Cleaning Services, Urban Edge Homes, Visions, Inc., and Kate Walthour and Matt Muenster
Additional Sponsors and Donors: BATC Foundation, Belladivas, Gerten’s Greenhouse, Rum River Tree Farm, and Wilde Roast Café
Volunteers: Collin Matheson, Gretchen Culver, Mike & Julie Fries, Mandy Bauer, Abby Brownell, Eric Campeau, Linda Elmquist, Ethan Helmer, Alison Johnson, Allie Krenz, Zach Krenz, Colin Levine-Horrigan, Jessie Livingston, Matt Muenster, Colleen Nelson, Wil Nelson, Nichole Newell, and Gary & Deb McIntyre
We are excited to welcome three new AmeriCorps members to the Rebuilding Together Twin Cities team: Ethan Boote, Molly Sir, and Krista Yamashita.
Ethan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from St. Olaf’s College this year. He has a passion for community service and has volunteered his time in many capacities. Ethan has experience in architectural planning, interacting with people from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, and working as part of a team.
Molly is a recent graduate of Macalester College where she studied American Studies and Urban Studies. Her passion for social justice has led her to numerous organizations including interning at a non-profit criminal defense firm and facilitating a youth leadership after school program. Molly is currently a New Sector RISE Fellow, where her host project with us is complimented by a non-profit leadership curriculum.
Krista holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design from California State University. She has extensive experience in coordinating events and customer service. Krista also served with the California Conservation Corps in 2012.
Welcome Ethan, Molly and Krista!
This is the eighth year that Rebuilding Together has been awarded an AmeriCorps grant through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The goal of the AmeriCorps CapacityCorps program is to build the capacity of grassroots Rebuilding Together programs so they can be more sustainable, effective, and efficient in helping homeowners in need, and the AmeriCorps program plays an important role in our ability to help low-income homeowners in our community. Earlier this year, Congress proposed to cut funding for Corporation for National and Community Service by up to 34%. These bills would be devastating, eliminating tens of thousands of national service positions. House and Senate appropriators are currently making final decisions about the budget, and funding for national service is still in jeopardy. Please consider contacting your member of Congress and Senator Blunt, Chairman of the Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, who is a key decision-maker when it comes to national service funding at (202) 224-5721
In September, we partnered with volunteers from CBRE to help three homeowners in need in North Minneapolis. One of the homeowners we helped was Bertha, who has lived in her home for 25 years. In addition to raising her four children in her home, Bertha has offered her heart and home to foster kids, recalling fond memories with all of them. Currently, Bertha is raising three foster kids, a young girl and her two brothers. She proudly remains physically active by attending activities such as Zumba at the YMCA. Despite her physical activity, arthritis in her knees and back are now actively disrupting activities of daily living. Her home had leaning, steep concrete stairs outside, which were challenging for her to navigate, especially when carrying groceries or with heavy snow. The volunteers installed low-rise, elongated steps to help make it easier and safer for her to get in and out of her home. They also installed grab bars in her bathroom to help Bertha get in and out of the shower more safely. The repairs and accessibility modifications made by the CBRE volunteers will have a tremendous impact on Bertha’s life as well as the lives she continues to touch.
Thank you to CBRE for your continued support of our efforts to help homeowners in need in the Twin Cities!
