Rebuilding group springs into action

This was no ordinary day for Gledhill, who had 12 volunteers from Rebuilding Together Saratoga County at his home.

'This is amazing,' Gledhill said. 'I don't know what I would do without them.'

RTSC's third annual work days started Saturday, and Gledhill was chosen to receive repairs on his roof and porch. His mobile home also got a paint job.

'I think its wonderful and a unique opportunity to give back and just help out,' said Maria Fontaine, RTSC volunteer coordinator at the site. 'It's not only a program to help people. It's also a program to meet people.'

National work days start next weekend, but RTSC extended the event two days and will have a total of around 300 volunteers working at 17 sites around the county, fixing houses for the elderly, low-income and disabled.

Gledhill, who cares for his 86-year-old mother at the Rock City Falls home he has lived at for the past 35 years, said he was extremely grateful for the help.

'It's a wonderful program,' he said.

RTSC is able to do these projects with support from sponsors, businesses and private donations.

People interested in receiving RTSC's help had to fill out an application, and a committee reviewed all the applications and visited each site.

All of the sites have a budget of around $2,500 for materials.

Some budgets vary with different projects.

RTSC is the local affiliate of Rebuilding Together, a national organization that works to preserve and revitalize houses and communities.

The volunteers will work next Saturday and even the following weekend if there are projects that aren't completed.

A project in Greenfield Center was also under way Saturday, as nine volunteers gathered to build a ramp and deck for Richard Biggie, a retired Saratoga Springs police officer.

'Today is a pre-work day,' said Jeff Taylor, volunteer and RTSC board vice president.

The rain didn't seem to stop the volunteers from getting a lot done Saturday, although it did prompt some projects to pack it in earlier than 5 p.m.

The projects around the county will continue at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 29