May 5, 2006

Rebuilding Together transforms the lives of Evergreen homeowners

Homes throughout Silicon Valley and the nation receive much-needed repair

By Michelle Hecht
Staff Writer

On April 22 and 29, countless volunteers and businesses came together to transform the lives of deserving homeowners and nonprofits throughout Silicon Valley.

Advantest software engineer Jenny Chen helps paint the house her company sponsored for Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley. Photo by Michelle Hecht.

It was all part of Rebuilding Together, Silicon Valley’s annual rebuilding days to improve the living conditions of low-income, primarily elderly and disabled residents or families with children, unable to do the work themselves.

The event also took place across the country with more than 8,600 houses and community centers receiving much-needed repairs.

Among the deserving homeowners were four in Evergreen, including 74-year-old Mitsue Wheeler, who came to the United States 35 years ago from Okinawa, Japan. Now a widow without family in the United States, she needed assistance to repair her house.

After an application process that began in the fall, Rebuilding Together matched Wheeler with second year sponsor Advantest America, Inc. The company donated $10,000 to the organization and 20 volunteers pitched in to repair wall damage, paint the exterior and interior, install appliances and perform basic gardening for Wheeler.

According to Rebuilding Together Executive Director Beverley Jackson, project volunteers range from accomplished do-it-yourselfers, who build their own houses and do their own repairs, to skilled painters and trades people. There are also “a lot of volunteers who are just able-bodied and (have) willing hands and hearts to come out and help,” said Jackson.

For Joel Gibson, a facilities engineer at Advantest, years of carpentry and plumbing experience made him the obvious choice for house captain on the Wheeler site. A personal connection with the organization made it even more significant.

“My father had it done about 15 years ago (when it was known as Christmas in April) and I said I’m going to do it now to give something back,” said Gibson, whose wife was working on another Rebuilding Together site in San Mateo.

Gibson began working on the project almost a month prior to the April rebuilding day. He first visited Wheeler’s house to evaluate what repairs needed to be done and make recommendations to Rebuilding Together. After Gibson noticed the poor condition of Wheeler’s bathroom, the organization contacted a professional carpenter and the two rebuilt it.

Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley volunteers paint a house sponsored by District 8 councilmember Dave Cortese. The owner has lived in the 40-year-old home since 1989 and currently works for a non-profit.

Gibson worked on getting a washer, dryer and refrigerator for Wheeler, as well.

“A lot of homeowners are afraid to ask for too much,” said Jackson, explaining that Wheeler had only requested a few repairs. “They don’t start off with this list of all these things.”

However, once volunteers visit a homeowner, they go through a safety checklist and most often discover additional problems, such as appliances that are not working properly or are old and not energy efficient.

After Gibson prepped the site weeks prior, Advantest’s crew of volunteers converged on April 29 to continue rehabilitating Wheeler’s home.

Part of Advantest’s corporate social responsibility efforts, this is the second year the company has been involved. According to Gary White, project coordinator and Advantest’s director of human resources, his company’s volunteers enjoyed it so much last year, they decided to return, and with more people.

“It’s a great activity for corporate and local volunteers to really get involved,” said White. “I’d encourage people in this area to sign up to this organization individually and get assigned a workplace. The more people that do that, the merrier.”

Rebuilding Together relies on that kind of enthusiasm and support to keep its efforts going, not just on the April and October rebuilding days, but year-round.

The organization’s Neighbor to Neighbor program provides smaller teams of volunteers to perform repairs improving homeowners’ accessibility and mobility throughout the year.

“Things where their safety’s immediately impacted that they can’t wait six months to happen,” said Jackson of the types of repairs performed.

These include installing bathroom handrails and grab bars, shower stools, tub and shower anti-skid safety mats, smoke detectors, steps and wheelchair ramps.

“It’s a much quicker turnaround from the time they apply and our volunteers come out,” Jackson added.

Rebuilding Together funds all the projects with nothing coming out of the homeowner’s pocket. Along with sponsorships, the organization relies on donated materials and the ability to purchase wholesale. Additional donations and skilled volunteer labor enables Rebuilding Together to do six dollars worth of repairs for every dollar donated, said Jackson.

The organization also held its first Paint the Town fundraiser in downtown San Jose last September, with the proceeds enabling the rehabilitation of two extra houses this year.

With the help of local businesses, organizations and private individuals, Rebuilding Together is able to meet its mission to provide homeowners warmth, safety and independence, and enable nonprofit facilities to better serve the community.

A Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley volunteer brings in a new refrigerator for Miguel and Hilda Lopez on April 22. The site was sponsored by Komag.

“This is the part I see often for seniors ... over and over again you hear it just brightens their spirits ... it gives them a little more sense of dignity being part of that neighborhood,” said Jackson.

For Evergreen homeowners Miguel and Hilda Lopez, Rebuilding Together enabled the couple, who takes care of an adult son with Down’s Syndrome and two daughters in college, to have a house they can be proud of.

Initially, the family only requested help to repair a heater. Within 10 days of applying, Rebuilding Together sent a repairman. However, with many noticeable safety and maintenance issues still to be addressed, but financially out of reach for the family, Rebuilding Together set up a rebuilding day on April 22 sponsored by Komag.

“They (Rebuilding Together) are considerate ... and see what you need,” said Hilda.

Volunteers painted the interior, caulked windows, installed porch safety lights, replaced a broken window and kitchen faucet, installed a new stove and refrigerator, repaired wall damage and rebuilt a bathroom. Rebuilding Together also provided professionals to repair pipes and patch the roof.

“They did a great job and I’m grateful to them,” said Hilda. “I feel like I’m alive, like I won the lottery, because they did so much in my home. I didn’t expect this.”

Wheeler’s own reaction to Rebuilding Together and Advantest’s efforts is more testimony to a homeowner’s appreciation. She was especially pleased with a Rebuilding Together interviewer, who she called polite and patient.

“I’m so happy,” said Wheeler. “I want to say thank you to everybody. I want to hug everybody.”

For more information about Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley, call (408) 578-9519 or visit www.rebuildingtogether-sv.org.