Woodinville High School students help residents at Parkview group home

This past Saturday students from Woodinville High School and many of their parents volunteered their time to help make the lives of the residents with developmental disabilities a little easier in their group home.  The two students in charge, Dean and Conner,  worked closely with RTS Board President, Russ Schultz to plan the project.  The group demolished a rotting deck and fence, replaced old carpeting with hard flooring for easier wheelchair movement, touched up paint and completed a lot of yard work.

The volunteers demolished the unsafe and rotting deck...

 And built a safer step for the residents to exit to the yard!

The volunteers replaced old carpeting...

With flooring that is more conducive to wheelchairs.

Volunteers painted the hallways that had been scratched up from wheelchairs

 and gave the residents a nice place to enjoy the outdoors by cleaning up the yard.

Amazing work, volunteers!

Volunteers of the Month: Quinn, Sophia, & Kyle (Youth Program)

The Dream Team!

We had no problem choosing our Volunteers of the Month for February! Three high school students and members of the newly improved RTS Youth Program served as Project Managers for a home repair project for Vallerie and her family.  Quinn, Sophia, & Kyle worked together (with help from RTS AmeriCorps member, Jeni) to identify a project, recruit volunteers, identify a work scope, buy materials, and complete a successful Rebuilding Day!

"I was really impressed with Kyle, Quinn and Sophia and how they planned and executed the project for Vallerie. They all have different strengths that complemented each other very well and enabled them to work well together. Besides being responsible and respectful, they were also a lot of fun to work with. I enjoyed getting to know each of them throughout the process. They have made a great impact in Vallerie’s life and in mine." (written by Jeni Goeke, AmeriCorps Program and Outreach Coordinator)

Let's hear from Quinn, Sophia, & Kyle!

1.  How did you get involved with RTS?

I got involved with RTS by hearing about it at school. (Quinn)

I became involved with RTS through my church when I volunteered with them on Spring Rebuilding Day last year. (Sophia)

I got involved with RTS through school. It was an option on the list of ideas. (Kyle)

2. What do you enjoy most about working with our organization?

What I enjoyed most about working with the organization was meeting new people and seeing the joy it gave the homeowner. (Quinn)

I enjoy working with the homeowners and seeing the transformation that can occur in one day. (Sophia)

I enjoyed getting to know the team I worked on and seeing a different side of life in Seattle. (Kyle)


3. What do other volunteers say about RTS?

Other volunteers say that RTS was a great/fun experience. (Quinn)


Other volunteers say that RTS is a great organization and my friends and family that I brought to the project were interested in volunteering with RTS again on other projects. (Sophia)
 
The other kids and people I worked with seemed to enjoy everything just as much as I did. (Kyle)

4.  Why do they want to volunteer their time?

They want to volunteer their time to help the community and the RTS organization. (Quinn)

They want to volunteer their time to give back to the community and because they think that it is a good use of their time and efforts. (Sophia) 
 
Mostly I volunteered because 1-senior project and 2-because I love doing projects like that. (Kyle)

5.  What about the RTS' mission are you most drawn to?

What I am most drawn to about the RTS mission is the helping of someone in need. (Quinn)

I am most drawn to the three main goals that RTS has: to help low income homeowners live in warmth, safety, and independence. I know first hand the importance of a home to a family and I feel blessed that RTS provides me with the opportunity to serve the community in this way. (Sophia)

The mission statement speaks for itself. I am always willing to help out those in need. (Kyle)

Quinn planting a tree

Sophia painting the kitchen

Kyle caulking the window

Thank you Quinn, Sophia, & Kyle! Fantastic work!

Interested in learning more about the Youth Program?

Email Jeni Goeke at jgoeke@rtseattle.org.

RTS Youth Program completes 1st Project!

RTS Youth Program had its first project of the year on February 23^rd. Three members from the program, Sophia, Quinn, and Kyle, led and participated in their very own project for homeowner, Vallerie, in the Rainier Valley area.  They organized a team of fourteen volunteers to help replace tiles and baseboards, paint the kitchen and ceiling, and do yard work. 

The whole crew with Valerie (left)

Great work, Youth Program!

Stay tuned for more before and after shots later in the week.

RTS Youth Program Makes a Comeback With First Project of the Year!

The RTS Youth Program (formerly RTS Youth Board) was revamped this fall with a new structure.  Under this new structure, one of the options for youth to get involved is by planning a project for a homeowner.  Three brave high school students stepped up to the challenge and hit the ground running planning a project for Vallerie in the Rainier Valley area.  The three leaders are: Quinn, Kyle and Sophia.  Quinn is a junior at O'Dea High School, Kyle is a junior at Kennedy High School and Sophia is a junior at Holy Names Academy.

These three members of the Youth Program have been hard at work planning the project that is taking place tomorrow, Feb. 23rd!  Among other things, Kyle, Quinn & Sophia will be leading volunteers in replacing tile, painting the kitchen, replacing broken window screens and doing yard work for Vallerie and her family.

The group planning the project at the RTS office

Stay tuned for photos after the project takes place this weekend!

Youth Program Spotlight: Sophia & Selina!

Two of our Youth Program members have gone above and beyond volunteering in October and November!  Both Sophia and Selina began volunteering at RTS right after the interest meeting in October and they have been consistent and hardworking.

Sophia is a student at Holy Names and volunteers in two different capacities at RTS.  Every week, Sophia helps with client outreach for 2 hours.  She calls different organizations around Seattle and tells them about our programs.  Soon, she is planning on visiting a few food banks in person to share more about the services we offer.  Sophia is also a member of the Youth Program's first project planning team.  Sophia and two other students have begun the process of selecting a house project to complete with Youth Program volunteers!

Selina is a student at Holy Names as well and spends 2 hours a week making sure our warehouse is clean and organized!  She has also helped with various projects around the office, including prepping for our Annual Appeal Campaign.  The RTS Staff has really enjoyed getting to know these two volunteers and we greatly appreciate everything they've done to help RTS run smoothly.

Sophia

Selina

Thank you Sophia & Selina! You girls rock!

Featuring the newly improved RTS Youth Program!

The RTS Youth Program has taken on a new face and a new structure!  The RTS Youth Program, formerly RTS Youth Board, is back up and running starting with an interest meeting last night!

Awesome members of the RTS Youth Program at last night's meeting

The new structure gives students, 14-18 years old, 5 different opportunities to get involved with Rebuilding Together Seattle.  

Students can:

• Lead and plan a service project
• Plan a fundraiser
• Help with outreach
• Help in the warehouse, or 
• Volunteer on a rebuilding day!

This way, students can choose the level of commitment they want to have.  A number of students are already signed up!  If you or someone you know is interested in getting involved in this great opportunity, contact jgoeke@rtseattle.org.

They're ready to get to work!

RTS Energizer: Gustavo Miracle, RTS Youth Board

Project leader for the RTS Youth Board team, Jenny Huston, chose Gustavo Miracle as one of their site's RTS Energizers.

"Gustavo brought a 'can do' and 'what do you need me to do' attitude to our project," Jenny said. "No matter what he did, he did it with an infectious energy. Whether ripping apart an old deck, hauling lumber, or making yard waste runs, Gustavo was the guy that was put on a project to make sure that we kept on schedule."

Excellent work, Gustavo!

Visit our donation page to make a donation in Gustavo's honor!

RTS Energizer: Patrick del Valle, RTS Youth Board

Project leader for the RTS Youth Board, Jenny Huston, chose Patrick del Valle as one of their site's RTS Energizers.

"Patrick has been a committed RTS Youth Board member for two years, and currently serves as Youth Board President," Jenny said.  "Patrick has shown leadership throughout all of our projects, and Rebuilding Day was no exception. Patrick was one of the first people to arrive at the project site and one of the last to leave. He was willing to help out wherever he was needed, and did so with a cheerful attitude. He proved to be a true leader and we couldn't have done this project without him."

Excellent work, Patrick!

Visit our donation page to make a donation in Patrick's honor!

Thank you, Youth Board Donors!

On Saturday, the RTS Youth Board partnered with volunteers from the UW Project Management Team (lead by Phil Renz) to restore the home of Deborah and her family in Beacon Hill. The project was a HUGE success, and would not have been made possible without the generosity of the Youth Board Spring Rebuilding Day 2011 Donors.


Thank you, donors, for your support!

Mary and Tom Herche

Lisa K. Pirnie

Lake Union Travel

Dave and Ann Kocer

Brenda and Tom Heflin

Jim and Mary Ellen Weber

Cathleen Clampitt

Bruce and M.A. Sangeorzan

Thomas Wilkes and Kathleen Greer-Wilkes

Lynne Berry

Ray and Rosemary Siderius

Dan and Julie Coleman

Stephen and Wendy Sefcik

Ginny Scalzo

Lisa Reynvaan-Hawes

Tracy A. Lloyd

Robert L. Aigner

Pauline Bach

Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Ratti

Kary Doerfler

Robert and Martha Aigner

Glen A. Curda and Jeanne Marie Clavere

Chapin and Janet Day

Elaine Moody and Mike Taylor

Kristi and Brent Greene

Pat and Kathy Shultz

John and Suzanne Rettenmier

Janet and David Aigner

Kelly and Bob Crimmins

Tobey Clarkin

P.R. Morris

Layne Presho and Dan Dunne

Horace and Barbara Hayworth

Lee Ann Rasmus

Jamie Dearn

Thank you, Youth Board Donors!

RTS sends a BIG thanks to the families and individuals who have donated to the Youth Board Spring Rebuilding Day 2011 Project! Together, Youth Board supporters have contributed over $3,000 through the Youth Board Appeal, along with raising $1,300 through the Coffee Sale!

Interested in supporting the Youth Board? Our goal is to raise at least $3,500 to cover the costs of our Spring project! You can donate online, or mail a check to Rebuilding Together Seattle at 811 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109.

YOUTH BOARD SPRING REBUILDING DAY 2011 DONORS

Mary and Tom Herche

Lake Union Travel

Dave and Ann Kocer

Brenda and Tom Heflin

Jim and Mary Ellen Weber

Cathleen Clampitt

Bruce and M.A. Sangeorzan

Thomas Wilkes and Kathleen Greer-Wilkes

Lynne Berry

Ray and Rosemary Siderius

Dan and Julie Coleman

Stephen and Wendy Sefcik

Ginny Scalzo

Tracy A. Lloyd

Robert L. Aigner

Pauline Bach

Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Ratti

Kary Doerfler

Robert and Martha Aigner

Glen A. Curda and Jeanne Marie Clavere

Chapin and Janet Day

Elaine Moody and Mike Taylor

Kristi and Brent Greene

Pat and Kathy Shultz

John and Suzanne Rettenmier

Janet and David Aigner

Kelly and Bob Crimmins

Kelly Crimmins

P.R. Morris

Layne Presho and Dan Dunne

Lee Ann Rasmus