Miranda returns to Rebuilding Together-AFF as our Office Administrator after taking time to be home with her daughter. She worked at RT-AFF in 2014 and prior to that worked at the RT National Office as a Grants Manager and then Associate Director of Veteran's Housing where she primarily managed our partnerships with two major national sponsors, Lowe's and Sears, and oversaw their affiliate grant programs. She also coordinated and participated in numer-ous media events around the country and had the pleasure of working with and learning from RT affiliates of all styles and sizes. She was first introduced to Rebuilding Together by serving in AmeriCorps at RT Sacramento. She earned a BA in Communications from George Mason University. Her favorite past times include board games and video games with her family, spinning, yoga, hiking, and playing with her kittens, Korra and Adora.  

Burke United Methodist Church has been partnering with RT-AFF since 1998. House Captains Mike Holmes and Mike Sawin can always be counted on to accept challenging rebuilding projects and this year was no different. The BUMC team made critical repairs for a retired couple in Burke whose townhome was frequently inundated with water due to its low position in the neighborhood, and poor drainage. The team developed and executed a water mitigation plan and rainwater now drains into a nearby culvert rather than into the family's basement. Faulty work in the basement done by a paid contractor also had to be corrected so the team replaced studs, installed drywall, painted, and made electrical repairs , transforming the rooms into bright, welcoming spaces where the couple's grandchildren can play safely. They also cleared a dryer vent blocked by mice nests and made many other critical repairs and safety modifications. Mr. J said "Mike and the team did a great job. If there was something that needed doing they got it done. We're very grateful and we feel safer and more secure in our home."

Dell Technologies Women in Action DC/MD/VA Chapter joined us for their first rebuild and our first She Build. "Helping Dina was really empowering for both her and our team of volunteers," said House Captain and RT-AFF Board member Jean Edwards. "Some of our team members learned to do home maintenance projects they've never done before, and we helped Dina develop a sense of pride of ownership. She was overwhelmed by her responsibilities as a single mother, and tremendously grateful for our assistance."

Fairfax United Methodist Church made repairs at two Gabriel Homes residences. Gabriel Homes provides residential placement, training and community integration for adults with developmental disabilities and is a nonprofit that the FUMC team loves to support. House Captains Mary McDaniel and Patricia Hupalo and their teams painted many rooms in both homes, making the rooms brighter and more welcoming. The teams created safe and tidy outdoor spaces for the residents by clearing overgrown plants and brush that were tripping hazards, correcting standing water problems that allowed biting insects to thrive, and taking care of other deferred maintenance. Outdoor spaces are an especially critical need during the pandemic and bring joy to the residents of Gabriel Homes.

St. Peter's Episcopal Church completed their 34th rebuilding project with us this fall. Homeowners Mr. and Mrs. C enjoyed the camaraderie and great rapport with the St. Peter's volunteers. The C's now have a fully functional, safe bathroom and a working kitchen after living without a shower and with multiple broken appliances. The team corrected 10 health and safety priorities and the C's home now meets all 25 RT Health and Safety Priorities. "We had a great day!" exclaimed House Captain Tony Poole. "Rebuilding Day is one of my favorite days of the year because it allows us to give back and help a family re-establish safety and livability in their home. I can't wait for our next Rebuilding Day."

Lowe's has been a partner with Rebuilding Together, nationally, since 2007. Our partnership has empowered homeowners to stay in their homes, preserved generational wealth and allowed homeowners to age in place safely. This year Lowe's provided $10,000 in store credit to Rebuilding Together-AFF and a total of $130,000 to RT Affiliates in NFL markets as part of their 2021 Super Bowl campaign. Lowe's support allowed us to purchase materials that we used to make repairs and modifications for 25-30 homeowners including aluminum ramp pieces, pressure treated lumber to build wooden ramps, decks and stairs, specialty grab bars, LED light fixtures, smoke and CO detectors, comfort height toilets, two microwaves and dozens of other items. The generous support from Lowe's allowed us to free-up resources for other purposes and to stretch our programs even farther.

If you had to choose, would you pay for a medicine or pay for a plumber? Would you feed the family or fix your leaky gutters? These are choices our low-income neighbors have to make every day. We can help make these choices easier together. Please contribute today so Rebuilding Together -AFF can continue to provide free home repairs and modifications for our neighbors in need.

Support Rebuilding Together - AFF through the Combined Federal Campaign by designating #57363. Federal and Military employees and retirees can support our work via payroll or retirement annuity deduction. You can find the CFC pledge forms and other materials here.