Rebuilding Together, Lowes Give Low-Income Families Much Needed Home Repairs in Howard County

April 29, 2011 - PRLog -- Columbia, MD (April 29, 2011) – Volunteers from Lowe’s of Columbia, MD and Rebuilding Together Howard County will dedicate their time and skills Saturday, April  30, to help make improvements to homes in the Howard County community as part of the 18th annual Howard County National Rebuilding Day. The repairs were made possible by a $250,000 grant from Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation.
Fifty Rebuilding Together affiliates, including Rebuilding Together Howard County, received a $5,000 grant for the projects. Lowe’s Heroes and more than 200 Rebuilding Together affiliates will complete critical home repairs for low-income families across the United States on or around National Rebuilding Day, April 30.
“Lowe’s has been a committed partner dedicated to investing in local communities on a national scale,” said John Startt, President of Rebuilding Together Howard County. “Lowe’s impact to date has been incredible. We look forward to continuing work with Lowe’s volunteers to preserve affordable home ownership in our community.”
Rebuilding Together’s National Rebuilding Day occurs every April. This year, Rebuilding Together will repair approximately 3,500 low-income homes and community facilities during National Rebuilding Day.
“Our work proves essential not only in the communities we serve, but also on a larger, national scope. Our rebuilds contribute to the future of sustainable and affordable home ownership,” said Gary Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “Our work would not be possible without the dedication of Lowe’s, who is equally dedicated to addressing our nation’s housing issues and impacting in the lives of low-income homeowners in need.”
Since 2007, the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has funded nearly 70 percent of Rebuilding Together affiliates and helped rehabilitate nearly 400 homes. Lowe’s Foundation has contributed $4 million to Rebuilding Together to assist communities and homeowners in need.
This year, the local Lowe’s volunteers will work on a house of a woman who suffered a stroke in 2009 and has not been able to work since.  Prior to that she worked for the FBI and has a degree in Special Education and was coordinator for inclusion at Wilde Lake HS.  Her son lives with her.   They will repair her plumbing and reconstruct an addition to the house to make it more structurally sound.  Plus, the home will be treated for termites.
“Lowe’s is in the business of helping people improve and maintain their homes,” said Larry D. Stone, chairman of the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Rebuilding Together to renovate and modify homes for some of our communities’ most vulnerable residents.”
ABOUT LOWE’S
Lowe’s supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company’s signature education grant program, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education, has brought more than $5 million in grants to K-12 public schools every year since its inception in 2005. Lowe’s Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. In 2010, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.  To learn more, visit Lowes.com/socialresponsibility.
ABOUT REBUILDING TOGETHER
Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America’s largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to energy efficiency, veteran’s housing, aging in place and Gulf Coast reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether. Media Contact: BCarter@rebuildingtogether.org (202) 518-3500.

Rebuilding Together® Howard County is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to helping elderly and/or disabled low-income homeowners, and families with children through home renovation and repair. Our goal is to keep people living in warmth, safety, and independence, while helping to build better communities in Howard County. To find out more about Rebuilding Together Howard County and its programs, or how you can help, please call Rebuilding Together Howard County at 410-381-3338 or visit www.rebuildingtogetherhc.org.

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Rebuilding Together® Howard County is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to helping elderly and/or disabled low-income homeowners, and families with children through home renovation and repair in Howard County.