News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Rebuilding Day with Christmas In April (Photo Update)

Rebuilding Day with Christmas In April (Photo Update)

Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities

By Michael P. Neufeld
Sunday, April 26, 2009

Photo Update - Sunday 5:40 a.m.

Lynne Orecchio and house captain Jim Williamson take a break from upgrades to her Crestline residence during Rebuilding Day with Christmas In April. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

A stump removal project at one of the Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April homes was accomplished by Ryan Jones from Lake Arrowhead, Ryan Sanchez from Crestline an d Luke Hamilton from Ontario. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Lori Brennan helps during Rebuilding Day 2009 by cleaning windows at the Crestline home of Francis Bullock. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Hundreds of skilled and unskilled volunteers gathered for the 2009 edition of Rebuilding Day with Christmas in April including 9-year-old Christian Shaver from Lake Arrowhead. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Box lunches were prepared for the hundreds of Rebuilding Day volunteers. Diane Davis from Twin Peaks adds some chips to one of the lunches. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Original Story

Lake Arrowhead, CA – Rebuilding Together volunteers, from all walks of life, will gather today (April 25) to work on six houses. They will be directed by local contractors, who serve as house captains.

Skilled and non-skilled volunteers will be working side-by-side on Rebuilding Day 2009--April 25. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Rebuilding Together with Christmas In April has depended on contractors for many years to direct operations on over 100 homes, from Green Valley Lake to Running Springs to Lake Arrowhead and Crestline. And everything takes place on the last Saturday of April each year.

Everyone gathers at the Mountain Communities Senior Center in Twin Peaks, about 7 a.m. They then make their way out into the various communities, to rehabilitate selected homes.

Santa checks the next house on his schedule of visits during Rebuilding Day 2008 thanks to a computer calendar furnished by Bill Priest. (Photo by Mic.)

Home #1 is located in Lake Arrowhead, with Jeff Markovich serving as house captain and Lorna Polley as volunteer coordinator. The Manitoba Drive home is sponsored by Union Bank.

Home #2 is on Delle Drive in Crestline, sponsored by Allstate Financial (Allison Banner). Jim Williamson is the house captain and Dave Stuart and Jack Cooperman will be volunteer coordinators.

Home #3 is also in Crestline (Faulhorn Drive), with the Children's Museum serving as house sponsor. Dave Bennett is house captain and Phil and Terri Wolloch are responsible for volunteers.

Student volunteers stepped up to help paint on Rebuilding Day 2008 at the Rim of the World Historical Society Museum in Lake Arrowhead. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Pat Brennan is the house captain for Home #4, sponsored by Mountain Sunrise Rotary. The Crestline residence is on Pioneer Camp Road, with Rudy and Karyn Westervelt coordinating volunteers.

Volunteer Rudy Westervelt puts the finishing touches on a 2008 Rebuilding Day residence. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Home #5 is located in Arrowbear, on Spruce Drive, with Matt Brule directing operations and LeAnn Burrous serving as non-trade coordinator.

Home #6 is located on Oak Lane, in Valley of Enchantment, with Don Begley volunteering to be the house captain.

After the day is over, Mountain Sunrise Rotary members prepare a free spaghetti dinner, for all volunteers and the homeowners whose homes were refurbished.

Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading non-profit, working to preserve affordable home ownership and revitalize communities. Rebuilding Together's network, consisting of more than 200 affiliates, provides free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income Americans.

With the help of 2.5 million volunteers, Rebuilding Together has delivered over $1 billion in market value since its founding over 30 years ago.

Call (909) 336-3910 for additional information. Send donations to Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities, P.O. Box 3540, Blue Jay, CA 92317-3540.

This article was first published on Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 12:16 pm. This article has been viewed 1457 times.

Michael P. Neufeld, Senior News Editor, is a graduate of the Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University. His first job out of San Jose State was with the Associated Press in Los Angeles as overnight Radio Editor. Prior to joining RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, Neufeld was editor of two weekly newspapers—THE MOUNTAIN NEWS and CRESTLINE COURIER-NEWS. He also has experience as editor of an employee newspaper for a major utility company and during his tenure as executive director of the San Jose State University Alumni Association served as faculty advisor to the association's monthly newsletter. He also spent eight years in commercial radio doing everything from news to advertising sales and writing commercials to being an announcer and on-air personality. Neufeld is actively involved the mountain communities including serving as master of ceremonies for the Arrowhead Arts Music Festival held each summer.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Michael P. Neufeld.