Poughkeepsie, NY
– When temperatures are in the 90s, winter seems a long way off.But freezing weather will arrive soon enough
and homes need to be prepared.
Thanks to Rebuilding Together Dutchess County and a $5000
grant from Sears’ Heroes at Home program, the homes of local veterans and their
families will be warm, safe and dry before the first snow falls.
“We are happy to
partner with Sears Holding Company again for our October 16 Fall Project Day”
said RTDC Executive Director Christina Boryk. “The end result is a real
grass-roots effort involving volunteers from our community, representatives
from local Sears’ stores and our local veterans and their families.”
Boryk added, “The Heroes at Home program allows our
community an opportunity to give back to the individuals who have served our
country.”
This past spring RTDC and community volunteers completed
seven “Heroes” projects. The home of a disabled veteran in Beacon received a
new back porch, the widow of a well-decorated WWII veteran in Hopewell Junction
received much needed home safety repairs, and the Hyde Park home of a veteran,
who served in Vietnam and the Philippines, got a new roof.
To date RTDC has completed 21 Heroes at Home
projects and the organization is planning to complete three more projects this
fall.
Sears' "Heroes at Home program provides support to Military service people, veterans, and their families through a joint effort with Rebuilding Together.
(pictured: RTDC Board President Serge Cryvoff, Exec. Director Christina Boryk, Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus)
Local business and community leaders
joined enthusiastic volunteers and grateful homeowners at the Rebuilding
Together Dutchess County (RTDC) community breakfast held Thursday, June 17 at Arbor
Ridge in Hopewell Junction.
Over a hundred
participants, including Dutchess County Executive William Steinhaus, Father Mic
Shriver of Church of the Resurrection, and Annie Nagy, the widow of a
well-decorated WWII veteran, shared their personal and professional stories
about how Rebuilding Together has impacted their lives.
“Almost 20 years ago my son and I strapped on tool belts
and worked on our first Rebuilding Together house project together,” Steinhaus
said. “Since then I’ve been privileged to support this wonderful organization
both as the County Executive and as a volunteer.”
Steinhaus said that Rebuilding Together Dutchess County
has helped hundreds of families live in greater safety and dignity in their
homes.
“Many of the program ‘s recipients are elderly widows who
want to stay in their homes but need a helping hand with repairs and
renovations,” Steinhaus added. “Rebuilding Together is there to provide that
support, preserving homes and families.”