Rebuilding Together Henry County is now accepting applications for projects in the Kewanee area that will be completed in 2018.
Sarah Snyder, the volunteer group’s executive director, said the expansion into Kewanee has been a success, with several dozen volunteers coming forward in the past year to make needed repairs to three houses in Kewanee.
“We’re really starting to get some traction there,” she said.
The organization, which started in Geneseo 25 years ago, branched out into Kewanee last year and hopes to keep the momentum going forward in 2018.
Under the program, applications for housing upgrades are submitted and considered based on U.S. Housing and Urbana Development income guidelines, and the scope of the work needed on a specific house. Applications for seniors, veterans, the disabled and families are given priority.
Of the three projects in Kewanee last year, the biggest was a full roof replacement that cost nearly $10,000.
“But it’s not always the big projects that get our attention,” she said, “sometimes there are easy fixes, too. We’re looking to create a safer and healthier home.”
She said work can be limited to a porch, entry ramp, new gutters or other small repairs, or even the addition of smoke detectors.
“A lot of it depends on what work needs to be done and what funds we have available,” she said. “Sometimes, after we look at the house, it’s determined it’s just not worth making extensive repairs.”
The group has worked closely with the city of Kewanee and used funds from its targeted home repair program to make its budget go farther. In return, the city gets an upgraded house taken off the nuisance property list.
The expansion into Kewanee has been met with eagerness, with the last project bringing in 35 volunteers to help with the work. Last year in Kewanee, six applications for work were submitted. Anyone over 14 years old can volunteer, and local churches and contractors are encouraged to help.
She said the First Christian Church and other groups have already worked with the group.
“For some of us who have been doing this for a while, it’s been rejuvenating to see that excitement here,” she said.
The group, which has two Kewanee members on the board, Paul Estes and Jim Thompson, is holding an organizational meeting for the new year next week, and the hope this year is to increase donations for work materials, discover new storage locations for materials and expand the volunteer base.
The deadline to submit project ideas is March 15. After that, the group works to raise funds for work that usually starts in the fall.
To donate, submit a project application or learn more about the group, either type its name into Facebook or go to its website at http://www.rebuildingtogether-hc.org/, or call (309) 944-6442.