AmeriCorps Members Travel to Louisiana for Week of Service in Honor of MLK Day

In honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps and the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, 65 AmeriCorps members serving with Rebuilding Together, along with program alumni and affiliate leaders, came together from 19 different states for a week of service.

The group repaired eight homes, which were clustered together for maximum impact on the community. We are proud that two of our AmeriCorps members, Kyle Sharp and Chris Lyle, traveled to Lafayette to help these homeowners in need!

Have You Heard about our Critical Repair Program?

Last year, we launched our Critical Repair Program, which is designed to help low-income homeowners repair or replace vital systems associated with their home, such as heating and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, windows, siding, and/or roof systems.  These contractor-based services enable homeowners in need to be better prepared to deal with future home maintenance issues.

We have already assisted 14 homeowners through this program.  One of the homeowners we helped was Donna who said in her thank you note, “Since getting a new roof, a great burden has been lifted from my life.”

This program is made possible by the generous support of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

THANK YOU for Giving Deb her Independence!

Last month, we asked for your help and you answered our call! Deb, 57, is a career nurse suffering from a neurological disease that limits the use of her legs, and she is currently confined to a wheelchair. We asked you to help us by donating or volunteering so we could build a ramp for Deb, making it possible for her leave her home. With the support of many generous donors and hard work of volunteers, we were able to raise the funding needed to design and install a ramp for Deb through BarnRaisings! On January 19th & 20th, our volunteers braved the cold to install the ramp for Deb, restoring her independence. THANK YOU!

We would like to give a special thanks to Jon Rol, a general contractor, who volunteered to help install Deb’s ramp. Jon brought his tools and expertise, both of which we appreciate!