The Rebuilding Together nationwide organization has been close to my heart since I was first introduced to it as a young pastor. That’s why 20 years ago, I chose to invest my time and energy in the mission: “repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives.” 2021 is our 20th year of service to Kansas City area communities. Our track record is a source of pride and a source of hope for me. Pride that so many volunteers and financial sponsors have been willing to give their time and treasure to make homes safer for our underserved populations of senior citizens, veterans and physically challenged residents. Since 2001, we have helped thousands of people stay in their homes safely. Through the year, we are going to share the highlights of 20 years of service, but today I want to look at what we accomplished as a team in 2020.
2020 is a year that will be remembered for generations to come. Every household faced hurdles, from getting basic supplies to childcare to simply staying healthy. We are beginning to emerge from many months of isolation and evaluate what life looks like moving ahead. Before we move ahead, I think a look-back to the resilience of our organization is in order.
Last year, Rebuilding Together Kansas City pivoted in the face of the global pandemic. Like many others, we were forced to change how we operated. Once we cleared the mandatory lockdown for two months, we incorporated new safe distancing practices in order to continue serving vulnerable neighbors. With people being forced to stay at home much more than customary, the importance of living in a safe and healthy environment was magnified. Thanks to faithful financial donors, partnering contractors, our skilled project managers and dedicated volunteers, we were able to create healthier living conditions for numerous families that were crying out for help.
2020 Total Outcomes
Volunteers | Volunteer Hours Worked | Market Value of Modifications |
223 | 2,651 | $174,146 |
Cities served: Blue Springs, Edgerton, Excelsior Springs, Gladstone, Grandview, Independence, Kansas City, Kearney, Lathrop, Liberty, Missouri City, North Kansas City, Parkville, Platte City, Platte Woods, Pleasant Valley, Richmond and Smithville.
Total Homes Served in 2020 | Total Residents Served in 2020 |
70 | 130 |
Kansas City has an inherent goodness and generosity of spirit that I hope you’ll celebrate with me today. Much work remains to be done in service to our neighbors in need, but today please take a moment to share this message with the people you know. 2020 was a tough year, but in the face of great adversity we put our best efforts to meet the challenge.
We receive financial support from a broad group of national and local partners that helps us acquire building materials and supplies at often reduced rates. However, the single greatest contribution to our organization is volunteer hours. The time you donate to Rebuilding Together Kansas City makes it possible for us to multiply each contribution many times over in terms of the amount of improvements we can make for our clients.
As we continue navigating 2021, I ask you to share our mission and our message with your friends and neighbors. We are building content and action items for our social media and our website, in addition to the work we continue to do to make homes safer for our clients. We need your help. Please share this post on your social media page and ask your friends to follow our page. Social media is a great low-cost way for us to reach a broader population and keep you informed about events and volunteer opportunities.
Thank you for your continued support of Rebuilding Together Kansas City. Because of your contributions of time or financial assistance, our clients have a place to turn to for safer homes. The gratitude we receive from the folks we help is overwhelming, and I look forward to sharing some of those messages in my next post. You have much to be proud of as we continue on this journey together.
Sincerely,
Clay McQuerry
Executive Director