National Rebuilding Day Comes to Riverdale, Assists Homeowners

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Mary Davis (front) speaks in front of her home, 1433 S. Lowe, at a press conference last weekend with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (back) as part of National Rebuilding Day and Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago's minor home repair project.
Mary Davis (front) speaks in front of her home, 1433 S. Lowe, at a press conference last weekend with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (back) as part of National Rebuilding Day and Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago's minor home repair project. Photo by Lee Edwards.

In honor of National Rebuilding Day on April 26, representatives from Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, a non-profit whose mission is to improve the homes and neighborhoods of elderly, disabled and low-income residents so that they may continue to live in warmth, safety and comfort, joined Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Village of Riverdale Mayor Lawrence Jackson, and a volunteer construction team at a press conference at 14533 S. Lowe Ave., about an collaborative effort to make much needed repairs to several homes in Riverdale.

Since 1991, Rebuilding Together has provided repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost. This year, the organization is scheduled to service over 10,000 houses and non-profit facilities. will be painted, repaired, weatherized and revitalized by over 200,000 volunteers.

Cook County has been involved with the project for 23 years and last year contributed $70,000 to Rebuilding Together through its Community Development Block Program (CDBG), a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. Beginning in 1974, the CDBG program is one of the longest continuously run programs at HUD.

This year, Cook County sponsored the repair of two homes in Riverdale.


“Cook County is proud to be part of Rebuilding Together as a way to assist those in need, and to contribute to the strength of our communities,” said Preckwinkle. “I am moved that so many of our Cook County employees are willing to donate their time to improving the living situations o our fellow citizens.”

“This has been a fantastic planning process for everyone and the support we’ve receive from Cook County and all of our sponsors is incredible,” said Wanda Ramirez, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Chicago. “Our teams come in and provide the resources and the skilled labor and the working hands to make it all happen. We’re doing plumbing, carpentry, electrical, etc. We’ve done so much to improve [local residents’] quality of life; to help them live in a warmer, safer and drier climate.”

“This is a great opportunity for the Village of Riverdale to service those who are less fortunate who don’t have the money to make the repairs as needed to improve their quality of living,” said Mayor of Riverdale Lawrence Jackson. “We’re very grateful for Rebuild Together and President Toni Preckiwinkle for the assistance they’re providing our community.”

Mary Davis, owner of the home where the press conference was held, was overwhelmed with emotion when she spoke with the Chicago Citizen Newspaper about the renovations to her home.

“It’s a blessing, truly a blessing,” said a tearful Davis. “I am so grateful for what the county has done this is an awesome program.”

Davis said that she received a new toilet, vanity, fresh painting, and that repairs were made in her basement. As a surprise gift, she also received a new sofa.

Preckwinkle told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper that the importance of the project went beyond a beautification project stating, “The housing stock is always critical to the vibrancy and vitality of the community and so to the extent that we can [make] it more possible for people to be more comfortable in their homes and [be] accessible through this program we try to do that.”

“It makes Riverdale a more attractive, more viable place to live and for businesses to come so this is a tremendous impact on the community,” said Jackson.

For more information about Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago call 312-201-1188 or visit www.rebuildingtogether-chi.com.

About National Rebuilding Day

National Rebuilding Day

The visible culmination of the home repair program occurs annually on National Rebuilding Day - the last Saturday in April. Teams of volunteers are mobilized to work in partnership with the community to repair the homes and improve the neighborhoods of elderly, disabled and low-income residents so that they may continue to live in warmth, safety and independence. Each year, in preparation for National Rebuilding Day, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago recruits and trains sponsor teams, identifies and screens homeowner applicants, raises private funds for building materials, and coordinates the logistics of a volunteer effort that encompasses over 3,500 people.

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