Volunteers clean, fix up Shawnee residences

Rebuilding Together Shawnee, an affiliate of Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership, kicked off its third annual National Rebuilding Day April 24.

More than 200 fellow Rebuilding Together affiliates and thousands of volunteers nationwide will dedicate the day to rehabilitating and improving homes of Americans in need.

Rebuilding Together Shawnee and more than 200 local volunteers collaborated to help seven Shawnee families in need of housing assistance.

 From home maintenance to rehabilitation projects, the mission of Rebuilding Together Shawnee is consistent – help preserve affordable homeownership by lending a hand to Shawnee neighbors in need.

"After months of planning and preparation, it is with great anticipation that we embark on our third annual National Rebuilding Day, carrying forth our mission of helping our neighbors live safely and independently," Jeff Bahnson, Rebuilding Together Shawnee co-president, said.

National Rebuilding Day occurs annually on the final Saturday in April, and this year marks the 22nd year for the organization’s signature event, a day that brings together communities and volunteers to rehabilitate houses and stabilize neighborhoods.

Rebuilding Together Shawnee, also received a $10,000 grant through the Heroes at Home grant program in early April.

Established in May 2007, the Heroes at Home program is a national grant partnership between Sears Holdings Corp. and Rebuilding Together designated to support military and veteran families by funding necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes.

Rebuilding Together Shawnee will use the grant to assist a Navy veteran and a widow of an Army veteran.

Nearly 40 volunteers will make home repairs and improvements, including door and window replacement, drainage repair, painting and yard work.

"Funding from the Heroes at Home program gives us an opportunity to help our local veterans live safely and independently," Bahnson said.

To date, Sears Holdings has raised nearly $9 million for the Heroes at Home program through a nationwide, in-store fundraising campaign.

Founded in 2007, Rebuilding Together Shawnee was established to help Shawnee neighbors in need.

Since the organization’s inception, it has helped 18 families improve their living conditions so they have a safer place to call home.

For information, visit www.rebuildingtogethershawnee.org.

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