Home DEPOT helpS Local Veteran & Wife - May 9, 2024
Akron — The Home Depot Foundation and Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio (RTNEO) teamed up recently to make accessibility modifications and improvements to the home of Vance and Sarah Sanford. Vance is a former Army National Guard. Shown, volunteers from Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force and RTNEO install a new ramp on the rear deck. They also completed a total landscaping revitalization for the front and back yards. The Home Depot Foundation continues to work with Rebuilding Together affiliates nationwide to address accessibility needs for veterans each and every year!
Area Volunteers help Local Veteran - April 29, 2023
FIRESTONE PARK — The Home Depot Foundation and Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio (RTNEO) teamed up recently to make accessibility modifications and improvements to the home of Anthony Aman, a local Air Force veteran living in the Firestone Park area. After serving as an Air Force mechanic from 1986 to 1990, Aman’s family settled in Akron and have been in their current home since 2001. Shown above, volunteers from Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force and RTNEO install new steps on the porch and in the yard. They also completed other safety and beautification projects, pictured below. During National Volunteer Month in April, The Foundation worked with Rebuilding Together affiliates nationwide to address accessibility needs for veterans and since 2011, it has invested more than $475 million in veteran causes and improved more than 55,000 veteran housing facilities.
SHE BUILDS 2022 Projects
Akron and Cleveland Ohio
On September 17th, 2022, women from all over Northeast Ohio came to participate in our second annual SHE BUILDS training day at Tri-C.
In October 2022 - our SHE BUILDS community participated in community project swill in Akron and Cleveland Thank you to presenting sponsors Associated Underwriters Insurance | AUI and Key Bank.
Training and technology center
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio Partnered with Spectrum
On June 25, 2022, Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio partnered with Spectrum to provide an upgraded Training and Technology Center and new outdoor space at Lakeview Community Center on the westside of Cleveland.
Rebuilding Dudley Triangle Park And Lake Park Pool
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio Helping Communities
On June 17th, local volunteers with Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio helped the Northwest Neighborhoods team upgrade two public spaces in Detroit Shoreway! Dudley Triangle Pocket Park received 8 trees, 5 picnic tables, 1 grill and new landscaping. Lake Park pool received 6 new benches. We also provided free address numbers to 10+ homes in the area.
Thank you to community partners:
Cleveland rotary yard clean-up
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Rotary Helping Retired Veteran
Thank you for to the Cleveland Rotary for helping clean up a yard of a retired veteran. Their donation also helped to install a new walk in shower for the homeowner.
Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project 2021
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio Helping Veterans
In September, Rebuilding Together partnered with the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, which provides veterans in need of a new roof, as a way to thank them for all they’ve given by serving our country. A roof can be one of the most critical repairs on a home. Owens Corning donated all the materials, Rebuilding Together provided materials for new gutters and a local roofer provided the labor.
Army veteran and Mentor, Ohio homeowner, Tom Morgan.
Lowes Home for Hero’s 2021
Volunteers from Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism (NEOPAT) put the finishing touches on our Lowes Home for Hero’s Project. Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio identified a single mom living in Akron, who had served in the National Guard for almost 15 years, including two deployments to Afghanistan. With the support from Lowes, RTNEO was able to provide her with a new roof and gutters. Northeast Ohio Foundation for Patriotism helped with yard clean up, enclosing the bottom of the porch and installation of a flag pole with lights. (NEOPAT)#veterans #lowes #rebuildingtogether
August 31, 2021
Going Beyond Homes: Revitalizing Beloved Community Gyms with UFC and Modelo
“Respect for all.” That is the one rule that local boxing gym Revolution Fight and Fitness (also known as “The Rev”) instills in its members. The Rev, located in Euclid, OH outside of Cleveland, was brought to life in 2018 by owner Tim Stafford. Stafford started his boxing career while serving in the Army, but afterwards continued coaching and even competed in the Masters Division of USA Boxing.
After spending over 20 years in the fighting world, Stafford decided to recruit, organize and bring together the best coaches and fighters in his area by opening a new gym unlike any other. What had formerly been an old warehouse filled with junk was transformed into a training space by Stafford. Using his time off from his day job to come in and clear out the garbage, strip and scrub the floors, purchase and install second hand training equipment, build his own Jiu Jitsu mat from scratch and more, Tim established The Rev.
The mission of The Rev from day one has been to have a gym that creates a positive environment so athletes can truly thrive and reach their fullest potential. Since the beginning, many disadvantaged athletes have been invited to train at The Rev for free. The Rev also welcomes those who serve the community, offering the steepest veteran and first responder discount in the area. From the outset, Tim’s goal for The Rev has been to build an environment fostering a positive and tightly-knit group of members—and thanks to a dedicated and loyal team of coaches and fighters, he has made good on this promise.
The Rev struggled for its first year, but as Stafford learned from the Army and as he reinforces in each of his fighters, you may struggle, but you never quit. The Euclid community embraced The Rev and the gym was recently featured in The Euclid Observer’s Local Business Spotlight. In 2020, the pandemic brought a new set of challenges for The Rev. Stafford struggled to keep The Rev afloat as the state of Ohio issued shutdowns. For all of 2020, just making rent to stay in business had to be Stafford’s top priority. For this reason, many of the gym’s physical resources were not able to be kept up with, and they are all now wearing thin. Since the gym is in an old factory, the heating and cooling systems are inconsistent, old paint is flaking off the walls and ceiling pipes leak down into the boxing area. Broken lighting makes it dark in the cage. Both the ring and cage have taken a beating, too, and the cage floor is becoming loose and wrinkled.
Modelo, the beer brewed for those with The Fighting Spirit™, and long-standing partner UFC, heard about The Rev’s story and wanted to help. As a part of their new initiative with Rebuilding Together, Modelo and UFC are working to revitalize training gyms across the country, boosting the Fighting Spirit and ultimately strengthening these communities. Four gyms across the U.S. that play integral roles in positively shaping their local neighborhoods will receive repairs starting with The Rev in Ohio and following with gyms in Austin, TX, Saratoga, NY and Seattle, WA.
Gyms and sports facilities play a unique role in the well-being of our communities and the health of our neighbors. Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio is excited to work with Modelo and UFC on the repairs to The Rev! With their help and support, The Rev can continue to carry out its mission successfully and impact the lives of fighters from all over the Cleveland area.
April 27, 2021
Frontline workers receive essential home repairs in Cleveland
Local small business owner and driver, Ron, lives in a quiet community in west Cleveland. He has been fixing up his 1942 home since purchasing it five years ago. One day, he hopes to pass it down to his children.
Yet when the COVID-19 pandemic caused an 81 percent drop in business for the Navy veteran and former golf coach, Ron found himself struggling to make ends meet and unable to make much-needed repairs to his insulation, light fixtures and more.
Fortunately, Ron was selected as one of four frontline workers and homeowners in the Cleveland area to receive critical home repairs leading up to the NFL Draft.
Throughout the month of April, Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio installed fanfold insulation to Ron’s house, covered it with new vinyl siding, replaced the soffits, fascia, gutters and downspouts, removed and replaced the awnings and installed exterior light fixtures. Now Ron’s home is properly protected from moisture and cold temperatures and he has a safe and healthy home where he can invite his family and age in place.
“We’re very excited,” said Ron, when asked about the repairs. “It’s something we’ve been wanting to get done and being able to have it done […] is great.”
Repairs to all four homes were made possible through the “Home For a Home” campaign, launched during Super Bowl LV. For every nationally televised Super Bowl commercial that mentioned the word “home,” Lowe’s donated $10,000 to Rebuilding Together to provide essential home repairs for frontline workers. Through the “Home For A Home” campaign, Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s will make improvements to homes in 13 communities in 2021.
Nationally, Lowe’s is investing more than $3.5 million to communities in need this year.
January 26, 2021
Staying Safe at Home in a Pandemic
The last year has provided us all with many obstacles. Businesses and organizations have had to close multiple times disrupting normal operations for many. It is hard enough for an organization or business where clients come to you, but RTNEO’s work very often has us entering people’s homes.
Normally, our Safe at Home program involves one or more of our RTNEO staff entering a home for extended periods of time to inspect the home and to make minor repairs and modifications. As a precaution, RTNEO pivoted from entering homes for extended periods to a different course of action.
To keep serving our communities, as well as ensuring that RTNEO staff and homeowners are kept as safe as possible, we decided to put together home safety kits for our neighbors in both Cleveland and Akron. The creation and distribution of the Safe at Home kits was made possible due to donations from our partners at Lowe’s Home Improvement and support from the Summit County’s CARES Act fund.
These kits, which are packed into a 12-gallon plastic tote container, contain items hand-picked by our RTNEO staff to address common home safety issues with very simple, easy to use solutions for our neighbors.
Items in these kits included: smoke and CO detectors, sanitization supplies, weather stripping, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, home tool kits, weather radio/flashlight, pest traps, individual room UV air sanitizers, moisture control products, night lights, as well as other products. Even the plastic tote was picked for its functionality.
Since the kits have been passed out, our staff has received multiple phone calls from our neighbors expressing their satisfaction.
“I want to thank [you] once again for the tote full of items. I went through the tote and was just astonished by the amount of things in there and the number of uses for everything. Very valuable items, including the tote itself! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for contacting me and taking the time to bring those things to me. It was an amazing gesture, and the items are so, so helpful. I am grateful, thankful, and appreciative. You all are doing an amazing job!” – Ms. Griggs
This effort was so successful, in such a difficult time, that RTNEO is looking into ways to continue passing out these kits to our neighbors.
We are excited for what 2021 will bring!
December 17, 2020
Kickoff to Rebuild 2020
For the last 26 years, Rebuilding Together has joined forces with the NFL and Lowe’s to host projects in Super Bowl cities for the annual Kick Off to Rebuild. While Northeast Ohio is not hosting a Super Bowl this year, it did not stop our RTNEO and local Lowe’s Rebuilders from doing a project of their own
Thanks to generous support from Lowe’s, our team of Rebuilders were able to help Army veteran Luke Frohnapfel with critical home modifications to ensure that the 88-year-old Korean War veteran and his wife, Mary Lou, can age gracefully in their 110-year-old Akron home. Luke and Mary Lou have lived in their home for over 40 years, raising eight children in the process.
Keeping public health safety in mind, contractors from Access Solutions, Inc. and members of our team installed two chair lifts and a 20-foot flagpole at the couple’s home.
Chair lifts were installed along the basement steps and steps going to the second floor to assist the couple in moving easier around their home.
After the project was completed Luke only had one thing to say: "We certainly do appreciate this. We are just thankful."
If you or your business are interested in sponsoring a flag installation for a veteran, please contact Brian Sturgeon at brian.sturgeon@rebuildingtogetherneo.org or by phone (330) 802-1533.
November 7, 2020
Kent Senior Service Day 2020
Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio and Riverwood Chapel once again teamed up with the City of Kent for a day of fun and service. While we had fewer volunteers this year, turnout was still impressive in light of current events. Our team of [Re]Builders were able to create work groups of family members to tackle the tasks at hand this year to maximize safety efforts. By the end of the day, our [Re]vitalizers served 20 homes with less than half the number of volunteers that participated last year.
We are already looking forward to next November for KSSD 2021 and hope you are too!
OCTOBER 27, 2020
Small Business Critical Repairs in Northeast Ohio
Small businesses are the cornerstone of strong, healthy and vibrant neighborhoods. Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio is thrilled to partner with Republic Services to support the critical needs of small businesses affected by COVID-19 in Cleveland and Akron.
Many small business owners across the country are experiencing financial hardship and economic disruption because of the COVID-19 shutdowns. Through grants provided by the Republic Services Charitable Foundation, RTNEO will be able to provide much needed support to local business owners as they begin returning to work. Some of the repairs performed will include rebuilding surrounding business infrastructure, critical landscape repairs and modifications to allow for safe access of buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, storefronts and nearby public and common spaces.
“Republic Services understands the integral role small businesses play in our communities,” said Caroline Blakely, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “With their support, we can help businesses recover from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and position them to serve their community for years to come.”
We have selected nine small businesses in total to partner with on this effort. Stayed tuned to our social media accounts in the coming months to see highlights on these businesses and the progress of their projects.
May 7, 2019
Cleveland Foundation Lecture 2019
On May 7th [Re]Builders attended the annual Cleveland Foundation lecture titled “An Environment for Success” hosted by Key Bank and featuring keynote speaker Bill Nye (the “Science Guy”!). CEO, Ronn Richard, spoke about the future of Cleveland, urging attendees to do their part in efforts to support our communities by investing in local nonprofits, engaging their neighbors, and advocating for renewable energy and green technologies not only in Northeast Ohio, but on a grand scale across the globe. Additionally, the Cleveland Foundation has committed to greatly increasing social impact investments in the Cleveland area. This is an exciting time for area nonprofits to double down on their commitments to our communities. Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio is driven by the momentum of these keystone organizations and is excited to move forward utilizing the information learned at the Cleveland Foundation’s annual meeting to continuing improving how we serve communities in Northeast Ohio.
aPRIL 27, 2019
NATIONAL REBUILDING DAY 2019
On April 27th, [Re]Builders took to the streets of the Summit Lake Neighborhood in Akron to [re]pair, [re]vitalize, and [Re]Build in honor of National Rebuilding Day. Volunteers from Summit Lake Build Corps, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Church of our Savior worked on 3 project sites in Summit Lake and completed a number of critical repairs, such as: painting, landscaping, building a fence, replacing kitchen cabinets, and more! Thank you to all of the volunteers and sponsors who made Rebuilding Day 2019 an incredible day of service. Check out the galleries below to see pictures of [Re]Builders in action!
