Volunteers from Wells Fargo Help Two North Minneapolis Homeowners

On August 19th and 20th, Rebuilding Together Twin Cities partnered with Wells Fargo to repair the homes of two homeowners in North Minneapolis:

Chloe and Donald have lived in their home for more than 45 years.  All of their children and grandchildren live nearby, and Chloe often watches her granddaughter in their home.  Donald is a veteran of the Korean War, and he’s suffered from some health problems in recent years.

Kaye is a retired nurse and special education teacher.  She was born and raised in North Minneapolis and raised her two kids in her home.  However, staying in her home has become increasingly difficult for Kaye due to some health and mobility issues.

The Wells Fargo volunteer teams made a variety of repairs for these homeowners, ensuring that they can continue to live independently in safe and warm homes.  We would like to thank Wells Fargo for their continued support and hard work to help homeowners in need.  We look forward to partnering with you again!

Minnesota Timberwolves and Linx Work at Gibbs Museum

On August 17th, more than 100 volunteers from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Linx joined forces with Rebuilding Together Twin Cities to make repairs at the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life in St. Paul.  Volunteers installed new fencing, repaired existing fencing and worked in the gardens.  This is the fourth year in a row that Rebuilding Together Twin Cities has partnered with the Minnesota Timberwolves and the FastBreak Foundation to improve community spaces in the Twin Cities.

The Gibbs Museum is an important community resource that provides subsidized tours for schools serving lower-income areas, performs outreach programs in local schools, hosts programs for home-schooled children, and provides information about pioneer and Dakotah life to teachers in the nine-county region.

Thanks again to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Linx staff who came out to volunteer at the Gibbs Museum and thank you to the FastBreak Foundation for providing the resources to make these improvements!

Falls Prevention Awareness Day Is September 23rd

Did you know that every 35 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall?  In 2008, about 2.1 million seniors were treated in the emergency room for falls and more than 550,000 of these patients were subsequently hospitalized.  The total cost of all fall injuries for older Americans was $19 billion in 2000.  By 2020, the annual direct and indirect cost of fall injuries is expected to reach $54.9 billion.

These statistics are staggering, but there are ways we can help prevent older adults from falling in their homes.  For example, the Center for Disease Control lists home modifications, like installing grab bars and handrails, as one of the top four recommendations for reducing the risk of falls.

September 23rd is Falls Prevention Awareness Day, and we are taking this opportunity to share information with the community about falls prevention and what we can do to help older adults live safely and independently in their homes.  Through our Safe at Home Program, we make minor home safety and accessibility modifications, such as installing grab bars and handrails, for low-income homeowners who are older adults (+55) or individuals living with a disability.  These modifications are provided at no cost to the homeowner and can prevent falls, enabling older adults and individuals living with a disability to continue to live safely in their homes for years to come.

 

If you or someone you know might benefit from our Safe at Home program or if you would like to volunteer for this program, please contact us at SafeAtHome@RebuildingTogether-TwinCities.org or 651-776-4273.

Remembering 9/11

On September 10th, more than 250 volunteers joined Rebuilding Together Twin Cities and HandsOn Twin Cities to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9/11.  Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke at the event, along with Brian Dunn, Best Buy CEO, and Kathleen West, civic leader.

Volunteers spent the morning cleaning and polishing tribute markers along Victory Memorial Drive; gardening at Loring Elementary School; planting trees and shrubs at Theodore Wirth Park; drawing and writing on a Freedom Banner; and writing letters to the troops.

The volunteer event on 9/10 was the culmination of a larger initiative by Rebuilding Together Twin Cities and HandsOn Twin Cities to engage 1,000 volunteers to provide critical home repairs and services for 30 families in need, including several veterans and their families.

Thanks again to everyone who was able to join us and a huge thank you to sponsors of projects connected with this event, including Ameriprise Financial, CB Richard Ellis, GLS Companies, Honeywell, Minnesota Timberwolves FastBreak Foundation, Mosaic Company, Sears Heroes at Home, and Wells Fargo; and sponsors of the commemoration event, including the HandsOn Network, Best Buy, and Target.