Fall Fix-Up 2023

in the Tri-Cities

On Thursday, October 4th, we started our Fall Fix-Up events with a reunion, as Dominion Energy participated in person for the first time since the pandemic. Our volunteers quickly got to work to help Ms. Robena in Petersburg. We partnered with Ruppert Landscape to beautify the front of her house with plants and stones while also replacing old gutters, painting the side deck, and repairing the fascia.

Two other partners, Widespread Solutions and Roberts Awnings, generously donated their time to powerwash the home and replace a hazardous awning. By the end of the day, Ms. Robena was "over the moon" with the results.

The next day, volunteers from Evonik provided Ms. Tina of Chesterfield County with an exterior home makeover. They painted the siding of her house in a vibrant goldenrod color and the front and back decks in a deep maroon. Thanks go to Jake's Under Pressure Power Washing for their valuable services in preparing the house for painting.

Earlier this year, through our Critical Home Repair program, we replaced the unsafe front steps and a dry-rotted section of her siding. The volunteers' work was a wonderful addition that completed the transformation of her home. Ms. Tina was overjoyed and couldn't wait for her neighbors to ask about who painted her house so that she could tell them all about RT RVA and how blessed she was that day!

Despite the rain on Saturday, our volunteers from Costar Group, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, and the U.S. Warrant Officer Association, Crater Chapter, were not deterred. They came together to repair the homes of neighbors Ms. Angie and Ms. Cynthia, a mother-and-daughter duo. They also provided much-needed improvements to the historic Pocahontas Chapel on Pocahontas Island, one of America's oldest Black communities.

The repairs included safety modifications, painting, new flooring, and power washing of all three properties. We extend our gratitude to the Richmond Community Toolbank for providing the bench and picnic table kits for the chapel and the necessary tools for our volunteers. It was a family affair, and the community is grateful for the volunteers' hard work and dedication.

We have more good news to share! Next week, a team from Ferguson will be painting and providing repairs to a home in Petersburg belonging to a veteran and his wife. Our long-time partner, AdvanSix, will also spend an entire week on extensive repairs for a recent widower and his son in Hopewell.

Keep following us on social media for more updates and photos. And remember, every donation you make will help bring [Re]Build projects like this to life!

As Fall-Fix-Up winds down, it's time to prepare for National Rebuilding Month. This spring, we are headed back to the Brookland Park community in Richmond!

If your organization is interested in volunteering, please contact Program Manager Gwen Artis at gwen@rtrva.org.

Goodbye to a Valued Staff Member

After more than four years of dedicated service, our Senior Construction Manager, Charles Haley, is embarking on a new chapter. As our first full-time construction manager, Charles was instrumental in shaping our mission, recruiting and retaining contractors, and building strong bonds with homeowner recipients across the region. We'll miss his passion for repairing homes and revitalizing communities.

Thank you, Charles, for your service.