Falls Prevention Awareness Day Is September 22nd!

We are partnering with other local nonprofits to raise awareness about how to prevent falls in the home as part of Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22nd.  We are collaborating with the Highland Park/West Seventh Naturally Occurring Retirement Community, West 7th Business Association, Metropolitan Area on Aging, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, Access Solutions, and West 7th Community Center to host a Home Maintenance Fair on Saturday, September 22nd from 10 am until 2 pm at the West 7th Community Center (265 Oneida Street in St. Paul).

This event will provide resources to help older adults live more independently and safely in their homes, including an opportunity to meet with contractors on site and workshops on low-cost/no cost repairs and financial help for homeowners who are older than 55.  The event is free, and prize drawings will be offered, including a special drawing for the first 100 pre-registrants who call with their name and contact information.  To pre-register, please call: 651-690-8938 or email: NorcInfo@JFSSP.org.

As part of our efforts to raise awareness about falls prevention, we also made home safety and accessibility modifications for a St. Paul homeowner in need named Karen on September 13th.  Karen is a former nurse who had a stroke 12 years ago.  With the help of her friends and community members, Karen has been able to revitalize and repair a home that she purchased over the last year.

In order to ensure that Karen can live independently and safely in her home for years to come, we partnered with volunteers from Farmer’s Insurance to install grab bars, a shower seat and a handheld shower unit in her bathroom, as well as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, motion sensor lights and a doorbell. She also received fire evacuation advice with the help of volunteers from the St. Paul Fire Department.  Thanks to the St. Paul Fire Department and community volunteers who came out to help Karen!

Fall Home Maintenance Fair on September 22nd

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities is partnering with the Highland Park/West Seventh Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC), West 7th Business Association, Metropolitan Area on Aging, Access Solutions, and West 7th Community Center to host a Home Maintenance Fair on Saturday, September 22nd from 10 am until 2 pm at the West 7th Community Center (265 Oneida Street in St. Paul).

This collaborative event will focus on raising awareness among seniors (55+) of issues surrounding healthy homes and aging in place, such as the importance of home maintenance, preventing falls in the home, and addressing other potential safety hazards.  The Fair will provide resources to help seniors live more independently and safely in their homes, including workshops on low-cost/no cost repairs and financial help for homeowners who are older than 55, special discounts on repairs and remodeling, and an opportunity to meet with contractors on site.

Attendees are encouraged to pre-register by phone (651-690-8938) or email (NORCInfo@JFSSP.org).  Walk-ins are also welcome.  We hope to see you there!

KARE 11 Recognizes Long-Time Volunteer Jared Broghamer

On July 18th, KARE 11 recognized their Eleven Who KARE honorees, including one of our long-time volunteers Jared Broghamer.  Since 2007, Jared has served as a skilled house captain on eleven home repair projects.  In this role, Jared has been involved in every aspect of these projects, including recruiting, training and supervising volunteers; working with Rebuilding Together staff to finalize the budget, work plans and materials lists; interacting with the homeowner while working on their home; and making sure that the home repairs are of a high quality and are completed on time and within the budget.  Jared regularly recruits volunteers from his company, Mortenson Construction, to dedicate their skill and time to help Rebuilding Together complete homeowner projects.

Thank you to KARE 11 for recognizing Jared’s dedication to serving homeowners in need and THANKS to Jared for being such an exemplary volunteer!

Thanks To….

Honeywell employees, family and friends – On July 28th, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities teamed up with Honeywell to host their annual Honeywell Family Day at the historic Gibbs Farm!  Nearly 100 volunteers of all ages came together for a day of hard work, food and fun.  Volunteers repaired fencing and landscaped around the farm.  Thanks again to everyone who volunteered that day!

The Home Depot Foundation and Frederickson & Byron Volunteer Team – The Home Depot Foundation recently sponsored home repairs for a veteran of the U.S. Airforce named Carl and his wife, Gloria.  More than 20 volunteers from Frederickson & Byron partnered with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities on July 11th to make these repairs, which included removing carpeting and installing wood laminate flooring; removing broken patio pavers and installing new pavers; moving a ceiling light fixture; cleaning the carpet; repairing the shower drain; repairing the sidewalk; and patching the foundation.  Thanks to the Home Depot Foundation and the Frederickson & Byron Volunteer Team!