All Good News!
Welcome to the Summer 2022 Newsletter! A lot has happened this Spring, and we want to share some of the good news with you from all of us at Rebuilding Together Sandoval County (RTSC).
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A word from our President
This is an exciting time at RTSC. We've received new grants and corporate gifts that let us help more homeowners. We've added new members to the team, and we're looking forward to adding more new team members in the near future. We're also reaching out to the community via Facebook, LinkedIn, Nextdoor, and other social media.
Thank you so much for your support. We couldn't do this job without the generous support of donors and volunteers like you!
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Brad Wood, ECHM
President of the Board of Directors
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Dana Oliveri Joins RTSC
Last month we welcomed Dana Oliveri as our new Construction Project Manager. Dana will be conducting home assessments and coordinating repairs on USDA grant projects as well as the new Lowes Veterans Grant. Dana has an MS degree in Historic Preservation and is experienced in a variety of construction trades. She previously worked as a course instructor and shop supervisor for the UNM School of Architecture and Planning. We are extremely proud and excited to have Dana join our team.
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Thrift Store Thrives in Bernalillo
The Rebuilding Together Sandoval County Thrift Store started about 10 years ago as a yard sale and has since grown to a thriving donation resale operation at the old Roosevelt Elementary School grounds at 854 Camino Don Tomas, across from Rotary Park, in Bernalillo. Store merchandise is derived entirely from community donations and each of the workers are volunteers, who give their time and energy to processing and selling the items.
RTSC Board Member Jodie Streit manages Thrift Store operations and organizes the volunteers that assist. According to Jodie, “This whole venture is a win-win for everyone. Our prices are extremely low, so anyone who needs clothes, household items, etc. can afford them. We give the community an outlet for recycling their unwanted items. The money we bring in stays in Sandoval County, used for repairing homes for low-income people so that they can stay in their own homes safely and comfortably. And the work the volunteers do give all of us a sense of helpfulness and caring for others."
Jesse, one of the volunteers said "I work at the store because I believe that helping others is important. There are many people in Sandoval County who can use a little help. The store is valuable in giving people a place to shop that is not expensive." Carol, another volunteer said "I really believe in Rebuilding's mission of helping keep people in their homes and being safe. I love Bernalillo. We offer real value in the goods that we sell. This work is good for my soul.” A recent customer was overheard saying “The prices are good and the money goes for a good cause … I enjoy coming to the store and just visiting with the people working here. They are so friendly.”
Big things are in store for the Thrift Store. New items are coming in all the time, and we're planning a big tool sale in the near future. Come visit us on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm.
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Rebuilding Our Community with Support from Sandia National Laboratories
RTSC recently received a grant of $5,000 from Sandia National Laboratories as part of the lab’s Corporate Contributions Program. The grant is intended to help families in crisis provide and sustain a stable home environment, especially for families with children. The Sandia grant funds will be targeted for home repairs in households that include young children so that we can promote a safe and healthy living space for children to grow and learn.
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RTSC Awarded Lowes Grant to Assist Rio Rancho Veteran
We are pleased to report that Lowes has awarded a $15,000 grant to RTSC to assist an 80 -year-old Rio Rancho vet with much-needed home repairs. The funds will be used to replace a 30-year-old leaking roof and non-functioning cooling unit. The veteran, who served in both the Navy and Army, has been a homeowner in the North Hills subdivision for more than 30 years. He took great pride in maintaining his home until an accident recently left him disabled. RTSC will also be hosting a volunteer day with Lowes employees later in the summer to replace a fence and perform general yard work. This project is part of Veterans at Home, a national initiative that brings tangible assistance to veterans and their families, at no cost to them.
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Eight More Homes Repaired with USDA Housing Preservation Grant Funds
This Spring, 8 more projects have been completed under the USDA Housing Preservation grant. These projects prioritize repairs that preserve the structural integrity of the home (roof, plumbing, electrical, stucco, heating/cooling systems, windows/doors) and/or renovations that make the home safer for the occupants (bathroom and entry modifications, mold elimination, correcting code deficiencies). The USDA grant is part of the current Administration's efforts to improve the quality in life for rural America. All work to date has benefitted low-income homeowners in rural communities within Sandoval County.
In one Bernalillo home, a working mother of four children, including a newborn, could not afford to repair her non-functioning furnace. Out of necessity, she resorted to using multiple space heaters, which was neither a safe nor energy efficient option. RTSC quickly repaired the furnace and faulty electrical circuits so that the home had heat during this last cold winter.
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Projects in the Hopper
We currently have 11 home repair projects underway in various stages of completion. These projects are funded with your generous donations as well as contributions from Sophia’s Giving Circle, Marathon Petroleum Corporation, the Sandoval County Commission, United Way of Central New Mexico, and PNM Resources Foundation, as well as grant funds from the US Department of Agriculture. We are replacing roofs, repairing faulty and dangerous electrical circuits, repairing heating/cooling systems, replacing broken windows and doors, and eliminating mold issues. Several homes require modifications to accommodate residents who are disabled. We are working in collaboration with University of New Mexico Occupational Therapy Department interns to design the accommodations that are most beneficial given the nature of the disability and homeowner needs.
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Imagine having to choose between fixing the roof over your head and putting food on the table. What if a leak in the roof led to mold growing in your home? Imagine what would happen if home repair needs prevented you from focusing on finding a new job or your children from focusing on learning. What if you no longer had a safe place to call home? At Rebuilding Together we make home repairs for our neighbors so they don’t have to make those difficult choices.
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Volunteer Opportunities
This is a very important time for RTSC. To keep up with our growth, we’re actively seeking new volunteers to help us realize the potential of the organization to improve our community. As a volunteer, you will work with a team of experienced rebuilders, or on your own, if you prefer. You can even work from the comfort of your own home.
Volunteer Needs:
- Handy volunteers to do basic DIY jobs like installing grab bars, painting, light drywall patching, etc.
- Volunteer Coordinator to engage and enable volunteers to do work on homes.
- Communications Coordinator to create content for social and other media channels, write newsletters, update our website, and reach out to donors who support our work.
We're open to other ideas too! So, if you want to join our team, please don't hesitate to reach out via e mail to <help@rebuildingtogethersandoval.org> or call 505-896-3041 to learn more.
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