Please join us in recognizing The Blue Heart Project and our volunteers during Civil Air Patrol Week (Dec 1-7)! Yesterdays story (on.fb.me/1trWTgD) featured the Civil Air Patrol’s original volunteers (our founding members). In honor of Day 2 of Civil Air Patrol Week, we recognize the Storm family and Rebuilding Together South Sound. Joseph Storm (a Senior Member and Second Lieutenant) and his daughter Hunter (a Cadet Chief Master Sergeant) joined the Civil Air Patrol at Green River Composite Squadron in early 2013. Besides being active members who have each taken on multiple leadership roles for GRCS, the Storms have been active members of their community, demonstrating our Core Value of Volunteer Service for a very long time. When asked about their work with Rebuilding Together, here is what Lt Storm had to say: “Rebuilding Together is a nationwide charity that provides help for individuals who own their home but have some disability and financial need that inhibits them from maintaining that home. Usually these individuals are elderly and have some sort of infirmity, often with their mobility. “The way the system works, a contractor like me is paired with a labor pool. These volunteers are usually from a business, church or other organization. I meet with the Rebuilding Together administrators who have already done the selection process and have made sure the recipient meets the qualifications and eligibility requirements. We go over the home and try to figure out what maintenance items we can do with the budget we have. (Usually a couple thousand dollars per project). We work with the homeowner to prioritize the projects. Usually they involve things like wheelchair ramps, widening doors to make rooms or entryways wheelchair accessible. Bathroom grab bars, wheelchair accessible showers are common. Sometimes we paint interiors or exteriors. We replace windows, fix leaky roofs, rebuild decks and fix rotted flooring. Pretty much anything that can go wrong with a neglected home. Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC, all have been addressed at one time or another. “I set up the tasks and coordinate the deliveries of materials, all for the big day. I line up my specialty contractors. The last few years I have been paired with Patriot Fire Protection, a commercial fire suppression sprinkler company. I call in friends, family, and my subcontractors and employees. The last Saturday of April is Rebuilding Day. All the volunteers that the “volunteer coordinator” can bring show up by 8:00. Usually we get around 30 or so volunteers. They have varying levels of expertise and some come every year just to do yard work or painting. Others are good carpenters and all around decent handymen (and handywomen). I have some former employees that are experienced carpenters that also show. I give them the task lists and they self-organize into task groups. I then meet with each group and sub-task group to explain my plan and encourage them to modify the plans if they think it will work better. “We aim to achieve our goals all in one day. Blow in and blow out. “I have been doing this for eleven years now for the South Sound branch of Rebuilding Together. Before that I volunteered in Seattle for their branch and put in a few years for them. “Rebuilding Day occurs all across the nation and fixes the homes and lives of thousands, one house at a time. Different charities fit different people. In this one, you see the results of your efforts right then, right there. I like that.” To find out more about Rebuilding Together, please visit the link below. rebuildingtogetherss.org Lt Storm and C/CMSgt Storm have accepted the The Blue Heart Projects challenge to be a volunteer. Take a look at some of the great work theyve done here: on.fb.me/12kFVt8 How will you make a difference? #whatisyourlegacy #rememberteagan #myblueheart #civilairpatrolweek
Posted on: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:51:05 +0000
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