Fall Rebuilding Days

Our first Fall Rebuilding Day was a huge success thanks to the support of seven of our longtime partners and a team of our year-round volunteers. The repairs and modifications they made will have a lasting impact for the homeowners and nonprofit residential facilities that we served.

We are incredibly proud of our team leaders and volunteers who joined us after missing two National Rebuilding Days due to the pandemic. “I was fortunate to visit many of the nine projects on Saturday to see our teams in action,” said Patti Klein, Executive Director. “The energy and smiles from the volunteers and homeowners were contagious! Everyone was excited to be back out in the community doing what they love – making a tangible difference in the hearts and homes of our neighbors.”

More than 100 community members volunteered their time to tackle a variety of repairs and modifications to correct health and safety hazards that included: installing grab bars and railings; making plumbing and electrical repairs; replacing appliances that were no longer functioning; installing new toilets, vanities, faucets and exhaust fans in bathrooms; patching and painting damaged walls, doors and ceilings; diverting water away from homes; removing and repairing broken fences; tacking overgrown yards; and so much more.

Please join me in thanking our caring and dedicated volunteers for an incredible day of work! And a special thank you to the women and men who served as team leaders who spent countless hours planning repairs, coaching their teams and sweating the details to make their projects a success.

2021 Fall Rebuilding Day Partners:

ACCA – Annandale Christian Community for Action
Bush Hill Presbyterian Church
Dulin United Methodist Church
Fairfax United Methodist Church
The Falls Church Episcopal
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
RT-AFF Year-Round Volunteers

RLAH Real Estate hosted their very first Rebuild on September 15 in Arlington. It was a big success and the volunteers had a great day working together to help a neighbor in need.

Dell Technologies Women in Action DC/Virginia Chapter completed our first She-Build project, bringing together a team of women volunteers to help a single mother by making repairs at her home so she and her family can live safely.

Here are some highlights from our Fall Rebuilding Days.

4 photos of volunteers working
Burke United Methodist Church (pictured above) has been partnering with RT-AFF since 1998. House Captains Mike Holmes and Mike Sawin can always be counted on to accept challenging rebuilding projects and this year was no different. The BUMC team made critical repairs for a retired couple in Burke whose townhome was frequently inundated with water due to its low position in the neighborhood, and poor drainage. The team developed and executed a water mitigation plan and rainwater now drains into a nearby culvert rather than into the family’s basement. Faulty work in the basement done by a paid contractor also had to be corrected so the team replaced studs, installed drywall, painted, and made electrical repairs , transforming the rooms into bright, welcoming spaces where the couple’s grandchildren can play safely. They also cleared a dryer vent blocked by mice nests and made many other critical repairs and safety modifications. Mr. J said “Mike and the team did a great job. If there was something that needed doing they got it done. We’re very grateful and we feel safer and more secure in our home.”
three photos of team at work
Dell Technologies Women in Action DC/MD/VA Chapter (above)  joined us for their first rebuild and our first She Build. “Helping Dina was really empowering for both her and our team of volunteers,” said House Captain and RT-AFF Board member Jean Edwards. “Some of our team members learned to do home maintenance projects they’ve never done before, and we helped Dina develop a sense of pride of ownership. She was overwhelmed by her responsibilities as a single mother, and tremendously grateful for our assistance.”
Fairfax United Methodist Church (pictured above) made repairs at two Gabriel Homes residences. Gabriel Homes provides residential placement, training and community integration for adults with developmental disabilities and is a nonprofit that the FUMC team loves to support. House Captains Mary McDaniel and Patricia Hupalo and their teams painted many rooms in both homes, making the rooms brighter and more welcoming. The teams created safe and tidy outdoor spaces for the residents by clearing overgrown plants and brush that were tripping hazards, correcting standing water problems that allowed biting insects to thrive, and taking care of other deferred maintenance. Outdoor spaces are an especially critical need during the pandemic and bring joy to the residents of Gabriel Homes.
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Arlington completed their 34th rebuilding project with us this fall. Homeowners Mr. and Mrs. C enjoyed the camaraderie and great rapport with the St. Peter’s volunteers. The C’s now have a fully functional, safe bathroom and a working kitchen after living without a shower and with multiple broken appliances. The team corrected 10 health and safety priorities and the C’s home now meets all 25 RT Health and Safety Priorities. “We had a great day!” exclaimed House Captain Tony Poole. “Rebuilding Day is one of my favorite days of the year because it allows us to give back and help a family re-establish safety and livability in their home. I can’t wait for our next Rebuilding Day.” The team was honored to have a visit from Arlington County Board Member Matt De Ferranti. Team Captains Bruce Jolly and Tony Poole showed Matt around the project so he could see the importance of the work RT-AFF and our volunteers do for homeowners in need. RT-AFF receives funding from Arlington County through a Community Development Block Grant.
Patti Klein, Bruce Jolly, Matt De Ferranti and Tony Poole.

Patti Klein, Bruce Jolly, Matt De Ferranti and Tony Poole.

Allen Schirmer, Founding Board Member, Retires

by Bruce Jolly, RT-AFF Board Member

Allen Schimer, Bruce Jolly and Tony Poole (l-r)

Allen Schirmer, one of Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church’s founders and Treasurer of the Board of Directors, recently retired from our Board. Allen’s retirement from the Board comes with a sense of gratitude on all fronts.

Allen began volunteering with Christmas in April, the precursor to Rebuilding Together, in 1988. The rector of our church, St. Peter’s Episcopal in Arlington, asked him to take on the church’s first project. Knowing that having a partner would make things easier, Allen recruited me. We’ve been RT-AFF partners for 32 years and I’m grateful he brought me along on this journey.

In 2010, Patti Klein asked me to participate in a focus group to talk about how to develop a new nonprofit organization, as they had been operating as a program of another nonprofit at the time and it became clear what we needed to become an independent organization. I said yes, as long as Allen could come too.

Allen volunteered to serve as Treasurer for the new nonprofit – Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church, Inc. He set up strong financial controls and developed indicators of financial health to make Rebuilding Together – AFF a successful organization. The solid financial groundwork he laid is helping us weather the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Part of the magic of Rebuilding Together – AFF is our volunteers and teams. Allen and I have had a lot of fun repairing 33 homes with our St. Peter’s team for National Rebuilding Day (NRD), RT-AFF’s signature annual event in April. It’s always a pleasure to stand with Allen at the end of a project and thank the homeowner for allowing us into their life. The ability to bring hope and a safer place to live to a neighbor in need is an incredible opportunity for both the homeowners and the volunteers. Sharing this with Allen has brought great joy to everyone involved.

Allen and I have had many successes and met more than a few challenges as NRD House Captains. We’ve learned something from every homeowner we’ve helped. NRD boils down to three important lessons. First, we make homes safer and more livable. Second, our teams learn incredibly valuable lessons about working together in new ways. Finally, it’s a great feeling to know our effort has given those we assist the feeling they can carry on because we can do more with many hands than they could do alone. These lessons also illuminate the way I feel about having worked so closely with Allen for 32 years.

I speak for the entire Rebuilding Together – AFF Board, staff and our community of volunteers and homeowners to thank Allen for his 32 years of dedicated service. We appreciate his leadership and his dedication to excellence. We are grateful for his many contributions to Rebuilding Together – AFF’s success so our neighbors in need can live in safe and healthy homes. We wish Allen all the best as he leaves the board and moves to a new community to be closer to family and grandchildren.

Allen and Colleagues

National Rebuilding Day 2018

Thank you and congratulations to all of our House Captains and volunteers who worked on National Rebuilding Day and the days and weeks surrounding April 28th.

With the support of over 650 community members, 29 low-income families and non-profit organizations that house and serve vulnerable populations in our area are now safer and healthier places to live. It’s amazing to see so many people working together on National Rebuilding Day, helping their neighbors remain in their homes by making critical repairs like building new and stable steps with hand rails, fixing plumbing leaks, modifying bathrooms for wheelchair users, replacing windows to make homes safer and more energy efficient and so much more. Read more

Burke Home Transformed Inside and Out

Pat’s home looked okay from the outside. She did what she could to keep the exterior in good condition. But inside, the house had deteriorated. She didn’t have the money or the strength to make repairs on her own.

Thankfully, Burke United Methodist Church (UMC) stepped in to help. They came just in time, making necessary repairs to improve Pat’s health and safety. Read more