RTS Energizer: Jennifer Stonestreet (CoHo Team of Windermere & Copiers NW)

The CoHo Team of Windermere and Copiers Northwest sponsored the Ryther Child Center for Spring Rebuilding Day 2010. Despite having several worthy individuals who worked tirelessly throughout the day, project leaders, Tonya, Doug , and Peter, chose Jennifer Stonestreet with Copiers Northwest as their RTS Energizer. Jennifer had brought several plants at her own expense and labor to help spruce up the cottages. Jennifer and her husband were also the very first to arrive on Saturday and were assigned to one of the more difficutl and time-consuming projects: to build a 50' fence with a gate, and then stain it. Although there were other individuals that shared similar work ethic and spirit, Jennifer went above and beyond:

"In the weeks preceding the Saturday event, Jennifer was always asking about what else we could be doing for Ryther and the residents beyond the Saturday projects," Doug told RTS. "Based upon her willingness to do more, Copiers Northwest owners and employees gave her $150.00 to assemble 50 goodie bags; one for each resident. Each goodie bag would be filled with food treats such as candy bars, Pringles, granola bars etc… Those goodie bags were delivered Saturday morning upon her arrival. Jennifer collected the monies, bought the food, and assembled all 50 of the goodie bags."

Beyond the goodie bags, Jennifer, along with a colleague, Julie, took it upon themselves to organize a Toy Drive to fill the new "toy lockers" that Copiers Northwest were planning on constructing on April 24th.

"Jennifer and Julie collected basketballs, soccer balls, tennis rackets and roller blades for the residents at Ryther. Jennifer also collected two youth bicycles for Ryther," Doug emphasized.

"Thanks Rebuilding Together Seattle for all you do for the community and for allowing the team from Copiers Northwest and Windermere COHO to be included in your efforts!"

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Jennifer's honor, please visit our donation page!

Swinerton Foundation provides project sponsorship!

On April 26th, RTS received a letter from the Swinerton Foundation, stating an upcoming contribution of $2,500 to benefit Rebuilding Together Seattle's program.

John Hanks, employeed by Swinerton Builders and a member of the RTS Young Professionals Society (YPS), applied for the grant earlier this year, in hopes of providing funding for Spring Rebuilding Day. Now, RTS looks forward to utilizing the funding for the Inaugural YPS Rebuilding Day. YPS members and friends will complete a project this Summer to help a homeowner in need (project & date to be announced later this month!).

YPS Member, John Hanks

RTS thanks to the Swinerton Foundation & Swinerton Builders for their support of our organization. RTS also thanks John Hanks, for his excellent leadership with YPS, his Spring Rebuilding Day 2010 project, and helping RTS aquire funding through the Swinerton Foundation.

For information on how you can get involved with YPS or the YPS Summer Rebuilding Day, please contact John Hanks at JHanks@swinerton.com.

Greenpoint volunteers help West Seattle homeowner

RTS wants to thank major SRD Sponsor, Greenpoint Technologies, for their great work on Spring Rebuilding Day 2010. Volunteers from Greenpoint Technologies (lead by Project Manager, Randy Green of Green Construction, and Becky Pelletier of Greenpoint Techologies) assisted an elderly homeowner in West Seattle, named Dolores.

Greenpoint set an all time SRD record, finishing all of their work shortly after 1:00pm! Volunteers cut trees in the front of the house, repaired leaks, provided new railings, and helped with other interior repairs and yard work.

As an added bonus, the Greenpoint volunteers received special treatment from their thoughtful homeowner. "Dolores made cookies for us on Saturday," Becky said. "After lunch she brought them out in a neat little tin. Not only was the gesture nice, but the cookies were so delicious that one of our volunteers got the recipe from her so we could share with our group!"

Thank you, Greenpoint volunteers, for your great work this year, and to Dolores, for sharing your fantastic receipe!

Dolores' Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 cup oil
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
3 ½ cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 cup Rice Krispies cereal
1 package chocolate chips

Directions:
Cream sugars with shortening.
Add egg & beat well.
Add oil & vanilla.
Add flour, salt, soda and cream of tartar.
Add chocolate chips, oatmeal, coconut & Rice Krispies.
Drop by spoonful on cookie sheet and flatten down a little.
Bake at 350 deg until golden brown.

RTS Energizer: Lee Keim (Krekow Jennings)

Lee Keim is the chosen RTS Energizer for the Krekow Jennings site. Project Leaders, Ryan Rongcal and Pat Cabe, chose Lee Keim for her motivation and focus:

"Lee led by example, stepping up to take on unenviable tasks others were not willing to take on," Ryan explained. "She was a motivating force throughout Rebuild day and kept the team focused allowing for a strong finish."

Great work Lee!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Lee's honor, please visit our donation page!

RTS Energizer: Lisa Miner (Perkins Coie)

Project Leader, John Edwards, chose Lisa Miner as the RTS Energizer for the Perkins Coie group. Lisa showed up early and stayed to the end, spending the day with homeowner, Elizabeth.

Lisa (pictured on the right) and volunteers on SRD 2010

"Lisa spent the entire day inside the house working with Elizabeth, the homeowner," John explained. "Lisa helped Elizabeth make decisions in a very kind and patient fashion. Lisa arrived early, willingly accepted the Homeowner Companion role, and was one of the last people to leave the site."

Thank you, Lisa, for your enthusiasm and hard work on SRD 2010!!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Lisa's honor, please visit our donation website!

RTS in the Seattle PI's "Green Human" Blog

Check out this great blog post in Green Human: Seattle Environmental Blog of the Seattle PI, posted before SRD, that gives a nice (pre)view of what it was all about!

RTS Energizers: Brendan, Cameron, and Victor (O'Dea High School)

On Spring Rebuilding Day 2010, parents and students of O'Dea High School tackled two projects! Both volunteer groups made improvements to homes of Parkview Services. The second site was lead by Project Managers Leo Lyons, Colm McGlynn, and Ben Riva, Sr.

At the end of the day, Leo, Colm, and Ben selected O'Dea students Brendan Kennedy, Cameron Clark, and Victor Servin as their RTS Energizers.

"They focused their day on beautifying the railings on the entrance of the house and the railings that led to the back yard," Leo said. "The three students worked without a break until this monstrous project was complete. These three stood out in a crowded field!"

The O'Dea parents were very encouraged by the spirit of volunteerism on Saturday, demonstrated by all of the students. "There are times when I read the newspaper headlines and get discouraged about our world," Leo said. "The past Saturday was a great day to be encouraged about our world - I was really impressed with the energy, passion and committment of all the young men and parents that worked on our project."

RTS Congratulates Brendan, Cameron, and Victor for their great work and wonderful attitude. RTS also thanks Leo, Ben, and Colm, as well as the donors to the O'Dea High School projects for for making Spring Rebuilding Day possible!

To make a donation to Rebuilding Together Seattle in Brendan, Cameron, or Victor's honor, please visit our donation website.