From Laurie McCaw,
Executive Director:

Dear Friends:

Up Close and Personal - Seeking Shelter from the Storm

2005 may always be remembered for the startling events surrounding what American citizens have endured during Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The devastation and long-term impact for our citizens residing in the gulf region has been unprecedented. The destruction was unmatched by any natural disaster in recent memory. Nationally, responses for “a call to action” have also been beyond comparison, from the everyday citizen who has opened their home to victims, to donations of food, medical supplies and materials, and unparalleled financial contributions by the public, the philanthropic community, and all of the sectors combined. On a national level, Rebuilding Together is positioning itself to assist in the rebuild efforts. “Rebuild, renew and re-vitalize” is who we are and what we do. Our mission - to assist low-income homeowners to remain in warm, safe and dry housing and live independently has never been more real or relevant. Locally, RT is looking to make our own mark on this overall effort by helping those evacuees that have fled to Denver to assist them with home repair needs.

Your support and involvement continues to be what drives Rebuilding Together’s impact on the community. Through Enews you will be kept abreast of our efforts to serve low-income homeowners and those affected by Katrina. Further, Rebuilding Together’s 2006 goals will include rehabilitating 40 homes on National Rebuilding Day with the assistance of more than 1000 volunteers that will impact more than 100 homeowners. Each year, the agency stretches beyond the previous year to help more homeowners. Watch this year as we double that number of people served through our Home for all Seasons year round program! We accomplish this by forming strong partnerships with sponsors and the community. I thank you for your continued support and welcome you to contact us at anytime if you’d like to become more “up close and personal” and involved in our efforts to serve low-income homeowners.

Inside this issue:

• From Laurie McCaw
• Counting Down to 1st Fall Rebuilding Day in Denver
• Homeowner Spotlight
• RTMD Staff Speaks Spanish!
• RTMD Events: Senior Resource Day and Open House
• Thanks to our Fall Rebuilding Day Sponsors

Your donations are always needed and always appreciated. Every dollar donated is leveraged into $4 of services for at-risk homeowners.

Click the button below to donate online with a credit card, or mail a check to:
Rebuilding Together Metro Denver
5840 E Evans Ave
Denver,CO 80222

Thank you!

Do you know of someone in need of repairs? Rebuilding Together continues to make year round repairs through A Home for All Seasons, it's year round program that focuses on Aurora, Commerce City and all of Arapahoe County. Each month we provide home repairs to residents needing help to continue living independently in warm, safe and dry homes.

Call 720-524-9205 for more info on A Home for All Seasons

Counting Down to 1st Fall Rebuilding Day in Denver

To better meet the needs of our community, RTMD is premiering a Fall Rebuilding Day, next Saturday, October 15th.

This will be small compared to what we do on National Rebuilding Day (33 houses last April 29th!) but it is a first step toward increasing our ability to respond to the low-income elderly and disabled homeowners who are our neighbors all over metro Denver.

Three homes will be revitalized on this first Fall Rebuilding Day by new sponsors Turner Construction and United General Title Insurance Company, and by returning sponsor Wal-Mart.

Read on to learn about one of those homeowners below....

......it's 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15th, and much of Josephine's (Josey's) possessions are being carted out of her house. But this is good news, because Josey, who is a 59 year old disabled woman in Denver, is about to have her home made warm, safe and dry by Rebuilding Together Metro Denver volunteers from Wal-Mart and Southeast Christian Church.

This volunteer team will be installing a new front door and lock, replacing kitchen and bathroom flooring, repairing her fence, and fixing and painting walls.

Josey has lived in Denver most of her life and has been in this 2 BR, 1930's bungalow for 18 years. She suffers from a heart problem and sleep apnea and requires oxygen. When she could still work, Josey worked in the Denver Public Schools as a cook, as well as raising three children.

.....by 5:00 all the work will be done, including some extra things that volunteers spotted throughout the day, all her possessions will be restored to their places and hopefully Josey will sleep a little better tonight.

RTMD Staff Speaks Spanish!

We're learning anyway. All of the staff and RTVISTAs in Denver started taking Spanish together at the beginning of September to enhance communication with our Spanish speaking homeowners.

We are already very good at counting and singing (yes, singing) our ABCs and can tell our birthdays - but don't ask us that :) Soon we will be able to begin to talk about applications and insurance and bad plumbing and leaky roofs. It will be a while before we can converse easily with our Spanish speaking homeowners and volunteers, but we're off to a good start!

We are taking classes from The Bilingual Connection

Click here to read this in Spanish!

RTMD Events: Senior Resource Day and Open House

City Councilman Rick Garcia talks with one of over 200 seniors who attended his 2nd annual Senior Resource Day, September 15th. RTMD was there, too, to talk about Rebuilding Day and provide homeowner applications.

Wells Fargo &
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage
Presenting Sponsor 2005