"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;

indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

~Margaret Meade

This quote beautifully describes our RTMC community of volunteers, board members, staff team, and supporters who turned out in force to serve our neighbors in need during National Rebuilding Weekend. Together, they changed the world for the better for so many vulnerable Montgomery County residents and gave them safer, healthier places to live and thrive.

I’d like to thank our terrific House Captains, Home Ambassadors, Volunteer Coordinators, Area Coordinators, and Contractor Partners for their leadership and express my gratitude to all the volunteers who participated. Despite the rainy weather, our volunteers jumped in to complete needed tasks with smiles and good cheer.

I’d also like to thank our wonderful RTMC staff team for their relentless hard work to make the weekend a success: Mat Saunders, Gabby Garcia, Beki Mitiku, Christina Devlin, Vivian Bacarreza Navarro, Shelby Badger, and Karen Kozopas.

We have several more wonderful events coming up and we invite you to join us:

She Builds, a volunteer day organized by women, with women, for women is coming up on May 19 in partnership with members of ABC Metro Washington (Associated Builders and Contractors). The group will spruce up the exterior of Interfaith Work’s New Leaf Shelter. More info HERE.

Cheers to Volunteers event will take place on Thursday, June 1^st at Smokey Glen Farms in Gaithersburg. It will be a fun evening to celebrate our volunteers and supporters who make our work possible. More info HERE.

RTMC Golf Tournament, chaired by Lance Wolin, will take place on Monday, October 2^nd at Bretton Woods Golf Course. Golf slots are selling fast so visit our golf website for more information.

As always, your support and partnership are greatly appreciated. Thank you for all you do to help neighbors in need. We appreciate YOU!

With gratitude,

Maury Peterson

Executive Director

National Rebuilding Weekend took place on April 27, 28, 29 and 30 and was a huge success. Special thanks to all of our corporate and faith-based groups that have signed up to help - more than 500 volunteers answered the call to help neighbors in need. We are grateful for the AMAZING volunteer teams who participated this year:

Bethesda United Church of Christ

Berkadia

Bozzuto

Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church

Church of Christ at Manor Woods

Covenant Life Church

Davis Construction 

DG Liu Contractors, Inc. 

Embrace Home Loans

Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church

G.E. Frisco

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Helping Hands Poolesville

Holy Cross Catholic Church

Home Depot

Kynoch Environmental Management

Lockheed Martin

Neelsville Presbyterian Church

Rock Spring Contracting

Saint Mark Presbyterian Church

Sandy Spring Bank

Shaare Torah

Shady Grove Presbyterian Church

Takoma Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Temple Beth Ami

Washington Property

AbodesJoy



Helping A Neighbor in Need in Poolesville

Our 2023 She Builds project with Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Metro Washington will take place on Friday, May 19th. She Builds is a project By Women, For Women, With Women and the group will provide landscaping and outdoor enhancements at Interfaith Works' New Leaf Shelter, a new 30-bed emergency shelter in Rockville. If your company is a member of ABC Metro Washington and you'd like to participate, contact Beki at bmitiku@rebuildingtoghethermc.org

When RTMC Homeowner client Ms. C. (pictured above) applied for our services, she told us that prior to retirement, she worked in housing counseling and was surprised to find herself in the same position as many of the people she used to counsel. Ms. C. said she was faced with plumbing problems she simply could not afford to fix.

Thanks to our contractor partner Victor Aquino at VAQ Renovations, Ms. C. had her plumbing issues repaired, plus Victor added grab bars and a tub cut for better accessibility and replaced smoke alarms. Ms. C. was very pleased with the work and sent these kind words in the six-month post repair survey we recently received. 

Join Us to Celebrate Our Volunteers & Supporters!

Save the Date and join us at RTMC's Cheers to Volunteers on Thursday, June 1st at Smokey Glen Farms in Gaithersburg. We look forward to welcoming our many volunteers and supporters in celebration of another great year of helping neighbors in need. More information, including sponsorship opportunities and tickets are available HERE.

Special thanks to Presenting Sponsor Pettit Family Charitable Foundation which has offered a donation TRIPLE match up to $10,000!

Lockheed Martin Veterans Help A Veteran in Need

This year, Rebuilding Together has partnered with global security and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin, to provide home repairs and accessibility modification for neighbors in 13 communities across the country, as part of our Veterans at Home initiative. Veterans at Home provides no-cost preventive home modifications and repairs to veterans and their families to improve safety and accessibility, increase independence and facilitate aging in place.

This past week, a group of 20+ Lockheed-Martin employees from across the country who are also veterans, came to Silver Spring, MD to help a fellow veteran in need and RTMC homeowner client named Mr. G. Mr. and Mrs. G. have lived in their Silver Spring home since 1982. The repairs needed will provide the 70-year-old home with some much-needed updates and allow Mr. and Mrs. G. to age in place in their longtime home.

Mr. G. joined the Army in 1967. He served during the Vietnam War from 1967 – 1968. During his service, he had multiple positions. He first served as a machine gunner, then served as a cook, and then served in the Mess Hall Supply Unit. Instead of being drafted for the Vietnam War, Mr. G. volunteered. When asked if he would like to share any memories from his service, Mr. G. said that while his experiences were traumatic, he would not trade the experience. Everything in life has been easy since he served, which he is grateful for.

Mr. G. and his wife are grateful to Lockheed Martin and the Lockheed Martin employee veterans who volunteered today at his home. Special thanks to Tiffany King at Lockheed and to Chris Perry at RT national office for their support.

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