Finding New Ways to Serve Our Neighbors

As the coronavirus continues to pose a threat to the members of our communities, Rebuilding Together’s work is adapting and evolving to continue serving our neighbors in need. Our affiliates across the country are coming up with new ways to rebuild that don’t involve large scale volunteer projects. Just because we’re unable to gather en masse for major rebuilds doesn’t mean we will stop keeping our neighbors safe at home.

Our AmeriCorps members have come up with a variety of innovative ideas. As an AmeriCorps alum and now Rebuilding Together staff member, I have seen firsthand the difference these members make on the lives of others and the passion they bring to the mission. I have been so inspired by what I have seen from Rebuilding Together’s AmeriCorps members during these tough times.

At Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, AmeriCorps members are continuing to do client outreach via non-direct contact, scheduling contractor based projects and completing pre-screens for their Safe at Home program. They’re even working on improving the affiliate’s volunteer engagement process overall.

Rebuilding Together Dutchess County’s AmeriCorps member, Dave, is preforming wellness calls to all the neighbors they have served through their Home Safety & Fire Prevention program and connecting them with existing services as needed. He is even developing a home repair workshop series for Rebuilding Together Dutchess County to offer to these neighbors as well as prospective applicants and volunteers.

Service has extended beyond home repairs as AmeriCorps members lead partnerships with food banks and community centers. Rebuilding Together Baltimore’s members have helped pack bags of food for distribution with the Maryland Food Bank and the Italian Cultural Center of Maryland. An AmeriCorps member at Rebuilding Together Acadiana recently assisted Second Harvest Food Bank with boxing commodities for those in need.

I am so proud of the way these members have stepped up in times of crisis. They truly are improving the lives of others one day at a time. To learn more about Rebuilding Together’s AmeriCorps program, visit https://rebuildingtogether.org/americorps.