More than 600 volunteers gathered on Oct. 11 to rebuild 10 homes in a Foothill Farms Neighborhood. Sponsored by the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency and the non-profit organization Rebuilding Together, junk and rubbish was removed and homes and lives were refurbished.
“We went through twelve 40- yard dumpsters and 220 gallons of exterior paint,” said Cindy Slagter, Program Manager with Rebuilding Together. “The day was an extraordinary success.”
Chief of Staff with Supervisor Roger Dickinson’s office, Cortez Quinn and Chief of Staff with Supervisor Susan Peters’ office, Howard Schmidt visited each house and delivered a plant and personal letter from Susan Peters. “One recipient remarked that the plant was the same kind that she remembered from her childhood, a Burberry rose,” Schmidt said. “We were lucky to see one of the gifts being planted at the last house as the crew was doing front yard landscaping when we arrived.”
More than 76,000 homes in the Sacramento area are considered substandard by Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that works to keep home ownership affordable and communities revitalized by repairing the homes of low-income homeowners. Saturday’s event included repairs such as painting, flooring, landscaping, carpeting, electrical, plumbing and minor safety modifications such as installing hand rails and wheelchair ramps for disabled residence that live independently.
“Visiting the homes and talking with the owners was a moving experience,” said Mark Manoff, County Neighborhood Services North Area Manager. “Many of the owners were elderly and really appreciated all the attention and assistance.”