We’re spending 2023 highlighting local organizations that make our community a better place- this month we’re shining a light on Rebuilding Together QAC. Rebuilding Together is a local non-profit that provides necessary home repairs to those in need. We talked to their president. Larisa Thomas to learn more about the people they help, how those in need can apply, and how you can help Rebuilding Together make our community a better place.
Rebuilding Together makes necessary home repairs to those who can’t afford them or do them themselves. “House repairs can culminate over decades,” Larisa explained to me, “Many have a leaky roof, that leads to floor and wall damage, mold…some of the people we help don’t have working heat for the winter.” 70 percent of the locals Rebuilding Together serve are over 65, and over 50 percent have a disability- which makes doing home repairs themselves difficult if not impossible. Since their inception they’ve repaired 100’s of homes right here in our county. “When you drive on 50 a lot of homes are in really good shape- but when you get deeper into our county you’ll find a lot of people in need,” Larisa explained to me.
Since their inception, Rebuilding Together has helped 100’s of people in our county. A few years ago they had multiple board members retire from aging out- and went down to repairing just one home a month. This year they’re restructuring and looking for new board members and volunteers with the goal of repairing ten houses. With their relaunch Rebuilding Together QAC needs help. “We don’t just need people who know how to do construction- we need people skills too. We need help with marketing and more board members to help us grow….we also need donations to help make it possible.”
If you’re interested in learning more about Rebuilding Together QAC you can go to their website at https://rebuildingtogetherqac.org/. There you can learn more about specific volunteer roles they have and sign up to volunteer. You can also donate directly to them there. And finally,if you’re overwhelmed with repairs and need help you need help you can apply for repairs on their website.