DUTCHESS COUNTY — Fifteen families in the county were given a helping hand last month through the efforts of community groups and Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit organization that assists families in need with home repairs.
April 24 is the organization’s National Rebuilding Day and the Dutchess County branch, one of 200 Rebuilding Together affiliates nationwide, sent groups out all over the county to assist homeowners in need.
Houses in Wassaic, Dover, Wingdale and Stanfordville were the closest projects in the paper’s coverage area. The Millerton News traveled to Wassaic to check in with the group working there, which requested the address and identity of the homeowner not be published.
Rebuilding Together utilizes the combined efforts of established community groups, along with individuals who have heard about the effort and want to volunteer. In Wassaic, congregation members from Christ Church on Quaker Hill, located in Pawling, formed a large part of the approximately 25 people working throughout the day.
This is the church group’s first time working with Rebuilding Together. The congregation spent the previous four years traveling down to New Orleans for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, but felt this year there was more of a local need.
John Brockway, a member of the church congregation, was acting as “house captain†at the Wassaic site.
Brockway said that he toured the site previously and made a list of possible jobs and repairs. There was plenty to do and the group tackled projects ranging from the big to the small: They reshingled a roof, rebuilt a cement sidewalk and installed a railing from the porch to the driveway. Some smaller tasks the group took on were screen and gutter repairs, landscaping and installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Community sponsors like Wingdale Hardware (specific to the Wassaic site) provided the donations necessary to cover the cost of materials.
“It’s the role that Christ made for us,†Brockway said when asked why the church was so involved in community service. “He said to love your neighbor and we try to live that motto and lifestyle. It’s a worthy goal and no matter what a person’s faith or lack of faith it makes sense.â€
Visit rebuildingtogetherdutchess.org for more information about the organization and National Rebuilding Day.
