"
My sons Daniel and Frank want to thank the volunteers, so that they will never forget that they improved our home and made a difference in their lives
."
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Sukkot in Spring 2019
This spring over 230 volunteers from across the metro area gave
more than 900 hours of their time to work with Yachad to repair and remediate unsafe and substandard housing conditions for families across the DMV. Special focus was put on addressing dangerous asthma triggers which impact lower income homeowners disproportionately due to the older housing stock and building conditions. A huge thanks to all of our skilled and unskilled volunteers. We couldn't do it without everyone's help.
The artwork above is from two brothers ages 8 and 9, conveying the spirit of both volunteers and our homeowners over these past two and a half months. Together we do more than repair houses; we build community around acts of lovingkindness.
Check out what we've done!
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Many thanks to our 2019 Sukkot in Spring partners:
Adas Israel Congregation, Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation, Agudas Achim Congregation, Congregation B'nai Tzedek, Etz Hayim Congregation, George Mason Hillel, Hill Havurah, Ohr Kodesh Congregation, Sixth & I, Temple Micah, Temple Rodef Shalom, The Jewish Studio, Washington Hebrew Congregation, University of Maryland Hillel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, Goldfarb & Associates, Added Dimensions, EJF Real Estate and JBG SMITH
.
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New Floors = Better Health
For children suffering from asthma, old carpet and mold can be life-threatening. This spring we helped four families and their children breathe easier by removing old, dusty carpet and replacing it with new flooring. We addressed the root causes of mold problems by fixing leaking plumbing pipes and bathroom fixtures and roofs .
In the District, more than 1 in 10 children currently have asthma, which is well above the national average.
To combat this problem, Yachad is partnering with
Children's National Medical Center
and
I
mpact DC Asthma Clinic
by accepting patient referrals to address home-based asthma triggers and literally saving lives.
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Adas Israel volunteers removed carpet for a household where five family members have asthma.
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"...we have felt a big difference with our breathing. We thank you and everyone for this gift and your hard work."
--Ms. Giron, Yachad Homeowner
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Safe Spaces Inside and Out
.
In one day Temple Micah volunteers dramatically improved a back deck for a family ensuring safe exits and a place to enjoy the summer weather with friends and family.
"Thank you for making my home more livable for children and myself." --Ms. Clements, Yachad Homeowner
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Supporting Organizations That Help Others
Highlighting Micah House Project:
Nonprofits need building repairs too. This spring we are assisting three organizations to keep up their properties which provide critical services to program participants.
L'Arche Inc
,
VIDA Senior Center
and
Micah House,
a home for women in recovery after addiction.
At Micah House, Yachad provided construction assistance, site supervision, and client support to create a plan of attack for fixing dangerous stairs and front porch. Working with YouthBuild PCS, repairs were done and the home is better than ever.
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Yachad and YouthBuild PCS put plans into action at Micah House
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"Kitchen Aide" Fund Raises New Dollars for Kitchen Appliances
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(Above) Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation and Added Dimensions make way for a new kitchen.
Many of our homeowners have kitchens that are far from adequate. Stoves are broken, refrigerators barely work, kitchen sinks leak, and cabinets are literally falling off the wall. Without a functioning kitchen, our homeowners are unable to prepare healthy family meals or properly store food.
Consider making a donation to Yachad's "Kitchen Aide" Fund, so more homeowners can have functioning stoves and refrigerators and kitchen cabinets that stay on the walls.
Let’s make sure families in our greater community can put a safe, cooked meal on their kitchen table.
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