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100 and Counting...Their Blessings!

RTO had the good fortune this year of renovating the homes of two inspiring homeowners over 100 years of age and going strong.

Karen Beard, volunteer coordinator for World Savings was a bit nervous how Ms. Ann Washington, age 101, would adapt to having a large team of volunteers working on her home—but quickly realized that she was a wonderful and eager client. Marcus Johnson, House Captain for Holliday Development, was quick to recognize a great opportunity in his West Oakland neighborhood fixing up the home of Ms. Annie Olivares, age 103, with the additional loving support of both her daughters and extended family.

Ms. Washington still plays cards at the senior center daily as well as goes to the race track weekly. She has lived alone in her home and all of her relatives have passed away except for one nephew who lives in Los Angeles. Ms. Washington feels “blessed” by the work of her team from World Savings, led by House Captain Ellen Lynch. Volunteers painted the house inside and out and made the bathroom ADA accessible.

Annie Olivares remembers fishing across the street from the house she grew up in and still lives in to this day. She is “forever grateful for all the time and hard work” from her team from Holliday Development and her House Captain Marcus Johnson. Her team replaced rotten flooring, windows, built a wheelchair ramp, painted inside and out, and made her home a safe and clean haven.

Karen Beard, Ellen Lynch & homeowner Ann Washington	103 year old homeowner Annie Olivares with her two daughters and House Captain Marcus Johnson

Pulte Homes & Yggdrasil Wildlife Center

Lila Travis began a love for animals when at seven years of age she was honored with befriending an orangutan named Thelma at the San Francisco Zoo. Eventually she become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, and in 2002 founded Yggdrasil Wildlife Center dedicated to the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wildlife living in urban areas, and the education of youth and adults alike about nature and the importance of protecting the environment. In addition to rescuing and caring for the animals, Lila and her team of volunteers work with the Oakland School District teaching kids about the abundance of wildlife in their midst and the important role they play in our lives.

YWR was bowled over by exuberant House Captain Paul Radliff and his team from Pulte Homes (back for a second year as an Oakland Builder sponsor). Paul’s skilled team, including many Pulte partners, renovated the animal hospital, built stairs to access cages on the lower level of the property, outfitted a training area, and planted native vegetation among other major improvements. Pulte partners included Schmidt Landscaping, Cassani Landscaping, Groundbreakers, Golden State Landscape, PFI Flooring and Bulldog BBQ.
(TOP)

Lila Travis with Pulte House Captain Paul Radcliff

Miracle on Pearl Street

Floria Smith had tried to keep up on her house, but it was a losing battle.  She and her husband bought the 1894 farm house, which was part of a dairy farm, 52 years ago when their first daughter was born. They raised their three children there. Then thirty years ago her husband passed away.  Since then she has kept the house neat as a pin, but the house had fallen into steady disrepair, since she was living on a very limited income.

Floria is an inspiration for seven grand kids, and eight grand-grand children, one of whom just graduated from Stanford University, and another who just became Homecoming Queen for the state of Idaho.  Floria has taught them “If you want something you need to work for it”.  When she heard about Rebuilding Together from a friend, she knew it was time to put her words into action regarding her home.

She was thrilled to be selected by RTO, and blessed to be matched with Shorenstein Realty a new sponsor.   As House Captain Jeanie Rainer states, “We just fell in love with Floria, and her historic home”.  She adds, “It was clear it needed a lot of help, so we just got started, lining up Shorenstein employees and trade partners.”  For several weeks Jeanie’s team of  up to 70 volunteers restored Floria’s house to its prior beauty, by repairing windows, rebuilding back steps and the back door, painting interior and exterior of house,  rewiring kitchen, installing new flooring in bedrooms and bathroom, tearing down the garage, building a fence, trimming trees, and landscaping the front yard. 

By 5pm on National Rebuilding Day, the job was complete.  Floria’s old farmhouse was transformed to it former glory. As she profusely thanked Jeanie and her team she was already talking about how she was now inspired to host her church group and other friends in her remade home. (TOP)

Floria Smith's home BEFORE Shorentstein's makeover	Floria Smith's home AFTER Shorentstein's makeover

Hundreds Brighten Up Shelter

On April 29th a team of 250+ volunteers descended on the East Oakland Community Project (EOCP), working side-by-side with a number of shelter residents, painting the entire interior of this facility that in a previous life was a Safeway warehouse.   The project was made possible by a generous Oakland Builder sponsorship as well as over 100 core volunteers from U.S. Bank.

EOCP is the only homeless shelter in East Oakland, serving homeless men, women, children, youth, and families. Facilities and services include dormitory style rooms, three daily meals, showers, laundry, clothing; as well as job, health, and life skills training to help its clients regain their self-reliance and independence. 

According to House Captain Roberta Beier, “It was a beehive of activity.  We had 10 team captains and over 250 volunteers, painting over 20 dorm rooms, common areas, and office space at the center.  And several of the residents at the shelter got involved.”   Rey Garcia, the Volunteer Coordinator for U.S. Bank adds, “Our team had a blast…and they made a real difference for clients of this wonderful facility.” 

In addition to painting, skilled volunteers also built storage, replaced ceiling panels, and re-tiled floors. According to Executive Director, Wendy Jackson of EOCP, "When the volunteers were finished, the center looked wonderfully uniform, bright and clean". (TOP)

Team of 200+ volunteers at EOCP

Cinderella Story on Myrtle Street

Carol Cole and her husband David Barlow are heroes for recently homeless kids and their families.  In 2000 they established the Sophia Project (www.sophiaproject.org) in West Oakland, providing special day care and parent counseling for recently homeless families.  Having worked 25 years with special needs youth, Carol has designed a unique education program that builds upon the principles of the Waldorf schools, presupposing the dignity and healing resources of the mother and child.  Numerous families have already “graduated” to self-sufficiency with jobs and housing.

This past year Rebuilding Together Oakland agreed to assist Carol and David in renovating a very dilapidated Victorian on the corner of Myrtle and 17th Street as their second home to serve exclusively recently homeless younger age kids from birth to three years in age.   This daunting project was made possible by an exceptional all-star cast including RTO volunteer team leaders that worked from February until late August 2005 for an on-time opening of the facility.

Under David’s overall direction, the house was stripped down to the studs, and the basement was excavated for offices and a small apartment for David and Carol.   Teams of contractors did the build out, sheet-rocked, and painted the house.  A team of skilled RTO volunteers then built a new kitchen and bathroom.  Then came April and an army of RTO volunteers transformed the double lot into a fantasy playground and garden for the kids, families and neighbors to enjoy alike.  An ugly duckling was thus transformed into the Cinderella Story of Myrtle Street.   (TOP)

Ugly Duckling on Myrtle Street: Feb. 2005	Cinderella on Myrtle Street: Sept. 2005
Team of landscaping volunteers from Omidyar Network and A. F. Evans	David Barlow & Carol Cole (upper left) founders of the Sophia Project

Bay Area High Reach