Upcoming Events
National News:
December 2008
Super Bowl- Kick Off To Rebuild Holiday Gifts- Give an honorary gift
to someone you love through
News from Rebuilding Together North Central Florida • WINTER 2008
Rebuilding Together this year. You
500 Volunteers can rest assured that your gift will
1 Historic Community
keep on giving. IN THIS ISSUE Upcoming- 2009 National Rebuilding Day:
January 29- February 1, 2009
1 Amazing Day Kick Off to Rebuild –Be on the
lookout for updates and events from
Director’s Message
Holiday Gift Ideas
Repairing Homes, Improving Lives
Join Rebuilding Together for the 14th annual Kickoff to RT National as you enjoy the Super On April 25, 2009– more than 8,000 homes • Volunteer as a House Captain.
Rebuild. This year, the events will be hosted by Florida National News- Kick Off to Rebuild
Bowl this year. and community centers across the country RTNCF is in need of skilled site-
affiliate Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay (RTTB) on a Board of Directors will be painted, repaired, weatherized and leaders to help plan construction and
supersized scale aimed at revitalizing historic West March 2009 Upcoming Events rehabbed as a part of National Rebuilding manage volunteers for the day of
Tampa. The projects in partnership with the NFL CWC volunteer energy auditor Spotlight on Projects Day! rebuilding.
celebrate Rebuilding Together's work of preserving training. Specific dates TBA. If Provide food for a worksite.
Thanks to Sponsors & Donors Here in Gainesville, Rebuilding Together •
affordable homeownership and revitalizing communities. interested, please contact: • Help with publicity for the event.
Community Programs North Central Florida (RTNCF) will also be
This year, over 500 community volunteers including CWC@rebuildingtogetherncf.org And many other ways…
Local Statistics repairing homes for families in need with •
superstars of the NFL will volunteer to provide free
March 7, 2009 the help and generous support of local
home repairs and renovations that embrace energy Please contact us for more information, and
Home Buyer’s Educational Clinic sponsors and volunteers.
efficiency and healthy housing principles. stay tuned for updates on projects.
Brought to you by the Alachua VISION In our own version of Extreme Home
Celebrate with us at a weekend of festivities praising the commitment of our volunteers County Affordable Housing
Makeover, RTNCF will complete all repairs
and sponsors in enabling Rebuilding Together and the NFL to make a difference in West Coalition. 9am-2pm- Best Western, “A safe and healthy home for every in one day– but change lives forever.
Tampa. Gainesville. Serious home buyers person.”
• VIP event on Thursday, January 29th contact: GRU Conservation Join us! Don’t miss out on the opportunity
• Rebuilding BLITZ on Friday, January 30th in West Tampa Services (352)393-1495 or to be a part of this special day. There are a
• Community Block Party following the work day durbinlm@gru.com. OUR MISSION few ways you can get involved:
April 25, 2009 “Bringing volunteers and communities • Become a project sponsor. Your
Rebuilding Together is proud to partner with the NFL, Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay
National Rebuilding Day- Reach together to improve the homes and lives company or group can sponsor a family
and local and national sponsors.
out to the community. Join this of homeowners in need.” in need. This is a great way to
Join us this year at the Super Bowl to Make a Difference Now. For more information on nation-wide event as a Project strengthen the community within your
Rebuilding Together national initiatives, visit www.rebuildingtogether.org or the local Sponsor or volunteer. Please PURPOSE own organization while creating a
Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay Web site at www.rttb.org. For Sponsorship information contact Melisa at: noticeable change in Alachua County.
Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Gainesville work
contact Brian Annis at Bannis@rebuildingtogether.org or 202-483-9083. miller@rebuildingtogetherncf.org Rebuilding Together NCF is a home hard to install a new doorway for a family in need.
repair organization dedicated to
addressing the substandard housing needs
Thank You, Sponsors and Donors: in North Central Florida. We strive to
increase safety, security and wellbeing
The Perfect Gifts for the Holiday Season
Laborer ($1-$99) Satchel Ray In-Kind Donors: for low-income residents by providing a
Network For Good
John and Patsy Detweiler
Michael Jarrell
Don Close
A Turner moving and storage
Alachua Elementary
tangible place for volunteers to get gi
This year, give a gift that keeps on giving…
Dorthy Farr Jim and Jane McMullen Appalachia Service Project involved in rebuilding efforts.
Linda Gardner Richard and Irene Wright Barbara Miller Donate in honor or in memory of a loved one.
Volunteers of all skill levels are trained
Pamela Lore Jocelynn Corp. Bill Nettleton Give a dedicated donation to Rebuilding Together NCF and
Danielle Collins Regions Bank Bob Costello to help meet significant housing
we will send a certificate in honor of the recipient. Your
Harpe & Associates Inc. Boulevard Plaza requirements in the area. Home repair
David and Deborah Prikle Carpenter ($500-$999) Catarina Soares donation is a meaningful gift and will also bless families in
Melisa Miller Brian Hickey Charles Perry Construction allows low-income residents to remain in
need.
Faith United Methodist Church Ward & Gina Simonton Coca-Cola Bottling Company their homes and communities, giving
Beverly Magee Dining for a Cause Dave and Toni Cusick
Lea Arena ERA Trend Realty
them a firm foundation for continuing a Shop through GoodShop.
Christine Clark Builder ($1,000-$4,999) Florida Concrete Recycling successful life. Planning to shop online? Go to www.goodshop.com. It’s
Richard and Glenda Cain Roger & Beth Haines Home Alone Designs
Carol and Sharon Miller Bill & Betty Sampson I-75 Business Park & Self Storage
easy to use. Designate “Rebuilding Together North Central
Wendell Porter Bob and Cathy Costello Leon Wetherington Florida” as your charity of choice, then click on the store of
Ramona Chance Wayne and Penny Archer Martha League your choice. A percentage of your purchase will
Leon and Marilyn Wetherington McCallum Cabinets Inc. HOW TO CONTACT US
Apprentice ($100-$499) Melissa Weber automatically be donated to Rebuilding Together. There
Bruce and Susan Crosson Anonymous Donor- $50,000 Michael Pellett are hundreds of stores to choose from- including Best Buy,
Gainesville Health and Fitness Center Ringwood Family Rebuilding Together NCF
The Gap, Amazon, Sears and even Ebay. It is the easiest
Reginald Howard
Hazel Jones
National Rebuilding Day
Project Sponsors ($5,000 +)
Rotary Club of Gainesville
Santa Fe Community College
4550 SW 41st Boulevard- Suite 2 donation you will ever give.
Carol Barron Charles Perry Construction Satchel’s Pizza Gainesville, FL 32608
Suntrust Bank A Family Foundation (anonymous) Six-Six media Each dollar donated equals $4 of repairs.
Tony and Lynn Domenech Gainesville Alachua County Association of Realtors Stephen Fuller
Your money goes far with Rebuilding Together. We take seriously the trust that our donors and
United Natural Foods
East Coast Endodontics Inc.
Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
Gainesville Jaycees
The Crom Corporation
The GIN System
352.692.4973 supporters confer upon us, and remain committed to using our resources in the most responsible
Lilio Alvarez Trinity United Methodist www.RebuildingTogetherNCF.org manner. Rebuilding Together is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
Robert and Mary Ann Mooney Wesley Hoy
Director’s Message
Spotlight On Projects: Local News:
A New Independence Energy Efficiency for Residents in Need
Energy efficient repairs can help preserve A number of community participants have Board of Directors
affordable homeownership for those in need partnered to make the CWC a success.
One homeowner this fall was given a gift “She is a wonderful woman,” says Executive
by lowering the burden of utility costs. These partners include: * Gainesville OFFICERS
that most of us take for granted- Director, Melisa Miller “and a joy to work for.”
Rebuilding Together NCF is proud to be a Regional Utilities * Rebuilding Together
independence in her home. She has lived partner in the Community Weatherization NCF * Neighborhood Housing and
in Gainesville her whole life, raised two Coalition (CWC). The CWC is a grassroots Development Corporation (NHDC) * President
adopted children along with her own and community coalition focused on improving Central Florida Community Action Bob Costello
Lately, I have been getting a lot of worked at Tacachale for 21 years before weatherization and energy efficiency for Agency (CFCAA) * ACTION Network RETIRED ATTORNEY
comments about current economic retiring. She is now bound to a wheelchair low-income households through education and the faith based community * Alachua Secretary
difficulties. These comments are usually as a double-leg amputee due to and volunteer work projects. County Community Support Services * Leah Winter
coupled with sympathy about how much complications with diabetes. However, Gainesville Community Ministries *United REGISTERED NURSE
harder it must be for Rebuilding this does not keep her spirits down; she is One of the big efforts of the coalition is to Care Tenders Home Health Services
Church of Gainesville * East Gainesville
Together to fill the need while affordable an exuberant and cheerful woman. involve volunteers in decreasing utility Development Corporation * and many Treasurer
housing is in crisis. We are clearly on a consumption throughout the community. individuals * Andrea Newman
bumpy road, but I am hopeful for the “Before the repairs, I Volunteers are trained to perform
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
next year. I am hopeful because of the comprehensive energy audits on homes.
generosity I have seen in volunteers, wasn’t able to get around Auditors also educate residents on
James Moore and Company
donors and homeowners over the last in my home- everything behavioral changes to conserve resources
year. It seems that as times get harder, and are able to complete some of the
BOARD MEMBERS
neighbors emerge in awe-inspiring ways. was tight. But, now… I
recommended energy saving measures at
A few weeks ago, a licensed plumber can do my own cooking; I the home. Jim Brandenburg
called our office. He had been laid off
from work, but wasn’t calling with repair can do everything for PRINCIPAL
Alachua Elementary School
needs. Instead he wanted to volunteer myself. Now I am more Many modifications were needed to make Did you know…
his expertise to help others during his
lack in work. That same week, I received independent. Thank you, the home safe and accessible. We had our Appliances in standby mode Ann Goodman
work cut out for us. PHYSICAL EDUCATION
a call from a woman who was without Rebuilding Together.” still use energy. Unplugging Sidney Lanier School
water due to a leak that caused a $600
water bill. The plumber was able to -Homeowner After much hard work, the volunteers your computer monitor or John Kish
were able to complete the modifications
repair the leak and get water running to When we first met this homeowner, there that would make life much easier. TV when not in use can save GENERAL CONTRACTOR
the house again. The homeowner was were a number of obstacles that were Kish Construction
ecstatic. She said she had been sent an Custom-made cabinets and counters were
an average of $190 a year!
making life at home difficult to manage.
angel to fix her plumbing. The holidays She lived alone and found everyday tasks installed that are easily accessible from a Martha League
The CWC will be training a new class of FACULTY MEMBER
would have been a lot harder without to be onerous at best. She was unable to wheelchair. The laundry room floor was This fall, the coalition trained 24 new
running water.
auditors in March 2009. If you are University of Florida, Special Education
access the laundry room because of raised and appliances were re-arranged so auditors. These dedicated volunteers are interested in volunteering or want more
I have hope because of smiles on differing floor heights. She couldn’t reach the homeowner is now able to do her own now equipped to help make a significant information, please contact Rachael at our Ryan Murphy
volunteers’ faces, thank you cards from certain cabinets or the freezer door on top laundry. A new doorway and a handicap impact on the energy consumption of local office or cwc@rebuildingtogetherncf.org ESTIMATOR
homeowners, and the simple peace of the refrigerator. She was unable to accessible commode were installed in the homeowners. PPI Construction Management, Inc.
there is when a family calls to let us access the commode due to space bathroom. And a new side-by-side
restrictions in the bathroom and had been refrigerator was installed, so storing Greta Rice
know that life is better because of our SALES MANAGER
efforts. There will always be challenges. using a bed pan for 3 years. It seemed frozen food will no longer be a chore.
Tioga Realty
Some days I am overwhelmed by the list like everywhere you looked, there was a Local Statistics- Impact 2008
of homes waiting for repairs. But, the
It’s the little things… Due to some astute
new challenge for this wheelchair bound David Treleven
good thing is- Rebuilding Together is volunteers, this resident is also able to
woman. Needless to say, independence MASTERS STUDENT
here through the tough times- and I feel save more energy because all her light • 23 Homes Repaired, 24 Energy Audits Completed. From your community: 66 Rinker School of Building Construction
seemed impossible to this resident.
lucky to be a part of the solution. With switches, thermostat and fan pull-chains family members impacted; 47 women; 19 men; 12 children; 15 disabled, 3 veterans. University of Florida
your help, we can fill the need and are now at a height that is accessible from
continue making a meaningful impact in her height. Volunteers also installed a • Type of Repairs: 3 homes painted; 4 plumbing repairs; 5 ramps built; 1 sink Leon Wetherington
our community- one house at a time. slanted mirror above her stove so she can installed; 3 sets of stairs built; 2 doors installed; 5 floors replaced; 1 drainage ditch; RETIRED PROFESSOR
Thank you for your support. Have a see when pots are boiling on the back 3 grab-bars installed; 4 ceiling fans installed; 1 kitchen replaced; 7 homes with Rinker School of Building Construction
wonderful holiday. burners. modifications for disabled; 27 homes with energy efficiency improvements. University of Florida
• 14.5% of people living in Alachua County live below the poverty line. There STAFF
The grateful homeowner says that the
are an estimated 7,500 homes classified as “substandard” in Alachua County. The
repairs have truly changed her life and
average yearly income of households serviced by RTNCF in 2008 is $18,112. Melisa Miller
that the volunteers made her feel included
in all the work days. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
• Rebuilding Together North Central Florida facilitated: 323 volunteers with
Melisa L. Miller
over 1,874 hours of service, giving the equivalent of $142,450 worth of project Amanda Cusick
Executive Director
value on homes in Alachua County. OFFICE ASSISTANT