Rebuilding Together Oakland County to Hold Rally Tuesday

The following was submitted to White Lake Patch for publication by Al Kaczkowski, executive director of Rebuilding Together Oakland County.

Each year, Rebuilding Together Oakland County, a local branch of the national non-profit organization, works with its coalition of volunteers to repair the homes and yards of low-income homeowners who are elderly, disabled, or military veterans and unable to do the work themselves.

Rebuilding Together Oakland County (RTOC) will transform 50 homes, including five homes in the Milford/Highland/White Lake Area on April 28, 2011 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The team of volunteers will work from dawn until dusk to ensure that families live in a safe and healthy environment.

Teri Coleman the Steering Committee Chairperson for the Milford/ Highland/White Lake area is asking for community volunteers to help, “We have a need for additional volunteers for our workday teams,” Coleman said. “We welcome everyone over 13 to come come join us. We can use gardeners, plumbers, painters, roofers, electricians, drywallers, carpenters and even if you do not have those skills, we will find someway for you to help.”

The RTOC program has helped over 485 homeowners throughout Oakland County since it inception in 1994. “Over the past four years we have been able to help 5 low-income homeowners each year in Milford/Huron Valley/White Lake community with free repair services,” Coleman said.

To be eligible for services the individual must own their home, have the taxes paid up to date and have homeowners insurance. Each homeowner applies for services in advance and must go through a vetting process. The home is then visited by the area leadership volunteers to develop a scope of work. Each of the accepted projects have a house captain assigned who will meet with the homeowner and finalize the plan for the workday. The captains help secure the volunteers and materials needed.

Coleman continued, “If you can’t volunteer for the workday you can still help by donating materials or lunch for one of the crews. Come and join us. It is a wonderful way for neighbors to help neighbors.”

Huron Valley - Rebuilding Together is having a volunteer rally on Tuesday, April 24, 7 p.m. at the Highland Congregational Church located at 1605 N. Hickory Ridge Rd. For more information call Teri Coleman at 248-721-3342 or visit www.rebuildingtogether-oaklandcounty.org.