Campus volunteers to help repair local homes, facilities
Annual ‘Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April’ scheduled for April 28

04 April 2001 | Faculty, staff and students are invited to take part in this year’s “Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April” on Saturday, April 28, a day of work to repair community facilities and the homes of low-income elderly or disabled residents.

The campus is partnering with “Rebuilding Together,” formerly known as “Christmas in April,” for the third consecutive year.

Volunteers will repair 31 homes and seven community facilities in Albany, Berkeley and Emeryville. Facilities to be renovated include a school-based community center, two medical clinics and a youth services organization. On a national scale, the program will repair more than 7,000 homes and nonprofits in 50 states.

One of the local homeowners selected is Mrs. “M.,” a 78-year-old former librarian who is confined to a wheelchair by arthritis. She is restricted in her ability to navigate her Berkeley home in her wheelchair and, until recently, was living without heat or hot water. In collaboration with the Center for Independent Living, volunteers from “Rebuilding Together” will build a wheelchair ramp to provide Mrs. “M.” with access to her own backyard.

Last year, nearly 400 Berkeley students and staff came out in April to paint, saw, haul and hammer locally. The campus is an official event sponsor.

Volunteer registration materials are available from the Chancellor’s Office, 200 California Hall; Residential and Student Services, 2401 Bowditch St.; Associate Vice Chancellor Ron Coley’s office, 125 University Hall; UC Police Department, 1 Sproul Hall; and the Office of Community Relations, 1925 Walnut St.

For information or to register, see http://www.rebuildingtogetherabe.com or call 644-8979. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and an invitation to the post-event barbecue at Live Oak Park.