Bed Stuy Neighborhood Rebuilding Day

Over the last year, Restoration’s Environmental & Sustainability Initiatives has worked with Rebuilding Together NYC to launch Bedford Stuyvesant’s first Neighborhood Rebuilding Day, which was held on Saturday, June 9. Rebuilding Together is a non-profit organization that, in partnership with the community, rehabilitates the houses of low-income homeowners, particularly people who are physically challenged and elderly, and facilities of nonprofit organizations in need so that they may live in warmth, safety, and independence. Working with participants in Restoration’s Retrofit Bed Stuy Block by Block program, we conducted extensive outreach, encouraged homeowners to participate in the program, complete the application, and recruit their neighbors to also participate.

According to Kyla Ali, one of the participating homeowners, “Rebuilding Together and Restoration helped me to take care of my home at a time when it was challenging to do so on my own. I feel like a huge burden has been lifted…The back yard is clean now so we can play back there and I can [have] a barbeque to celebrate my father this father’s day like I wanted to..they [also] fixed the broken tiles of the kitchen floor…I was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness and enthusiasm of the volunteers, event staff. . . and I am just grateful”

By the end of the day, 3 homeowners received much needed repairs on their homes and garden, and the Rose Kennedy Family Center also received much needed TLC, including paint, new kitchen cabinets and storage facility, all for free!