Work upgrades a neighborhood in hours
BY HILLARY WASCH
hwasch@herald.com
Trading Spaces, look out. Broward County has its own group of home improvement
specialists. And they may soon be coming to a neighborhood near you.
More than 150 people volunteered on Saturday to repair and revitalize 12 homes
in the economically struggling St. George neighborhood in unincorporated Broward
County near Fort Lauderdale.
Rebuilding Together Broward County, a nonprofit agency that revitalizes low-income
communities and homes, especially for the elderly and disabled, sponsored the
fifth annual Rebuilding Together Day on Saturday.
''There was paint peeling everywhere and there were termites,'' said Ethel
Jackson, 80, whose three-bedroom home got a face-lift from Rebuilding Together.
``I'm so happy and thankful for everything. When I leave the house and come
back, I won't even recognize my own house. It's beautiful.''
Jackson, a retired school crossing guard, has lived in her house since 1980.
She has wanted to repair the home, which she shares with her four grandchildren,
for the past 15 years, but couldn't afford it, she said.
VOLUNTEERS GO AT IT
Twenty-eight volunteers replaced her roof, installed two air conditioners,
resodded her yard, repainted the exterior of her house, repaired her bathroom,
and did some landscaping.
Corporate sponsors, including Home Depot, AutoNation and the Rotary Club Fort
Lauderdale, donated the money and materials to make the event happen. The corporations
also encouraged their employees to volunteer.
Rebuilding Together also hired eight contractors from the community at a discounted
rate to help out.
''This is the largest number of volunteers we've had, and the most aggressive
amount of homes we are repairing,'' said Rebuilding Together Executive Director
Dave Reierson.
Each corporate sponsor was designated to improving a specific house. After
assessing what needed to be done with each house, the corporations themselves
had to come up with the necessary materials and a way to complete the improvements.
''It's very gratifying,'' said volunteer David Ramsey, from Fort Lauderdale,
a Rotary Club member who worked on the home of Joyce Greaves. ``Our goal is
trying to help people. We are getting things done today that she wouldn't be
able to afford.''
Rotary Club volunteers resodded Greaves' yard, replaced a side door, replaced
her hot water heater, fixed her fence, and repaired the shed in her backyard.
''I think it will impress the neighbors to see how miraculous this place has
improved in a matter of just a few hours,'' said Greaves, who has lived in
the house for 29 years.
Most of the repairs focused on safety concerns, like bad wiring or bad plumbing,
but some focused on beautifying the homes and the neighborhood.
REWARDING EFFORT
County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, who represents the predominantly
black area where the 45-year-old St. George community is located, said the
area was in need of repair.
''For a community as old as St. George, it's fantastic that they came here,''
Eggelletion said. ``This sort of thing brings the neighbors together and makes
them stronger.''
Working closely with the St. George's homeowners association, Rebuilding Together
began selecting homes for improvements five months ago. Each homeowner had
to fill out an application, and a committee chose the 12 homes.
Rebuilding Together has previously repaired other homes nearby in the Boulevard
Gardens and Washington Park neighborhoods in central Broward.
The organization was created in July 2003, and took over Rebuilding Together
Day for the first time this year. The Leadership Broward Foundation previously
sponsored the event.
''It's very rewarding to be able to help others,'' said volunteer Bea Rollins of Pompano Beach, who works for Bank Atlantic, one of the event sponsors. ``I hope it encourages other people to help out when they see this.''
Rebuilding
Together Broward County, Inc.
Click Here to Contact Us
401 SE 15th Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
phone: 954-462-6200 ext.#203
fax: 954-764-1081