Schuylerville Elementary School third-grade teacher Mary Beth Donohue helps repair the siding on a home Sunday morning for Rebuilding Together Saratoga County. MATTHEW TURRI/The Saratogian

Living alone with a leaking roof, windows that didn't lock and a back door that didn't shut, Nancy Bisenius was in a desperate situation.

Unable to pay for a new roof, she sought help from Rebuilding Together of Saratoga County, an agency that rehabilitates homes of low-income seniors or people with disabilities who face desperate living conditions.

Michelle Larkin, founder of the Saratoga chapter and president of the board of directors, explained that she and her family used to travel with church youth groups to do rehabilitation work in other areas of the country, including Washington, D.C. and North Carolina.

In November 2003, she said, she figured that "there was a need locally, so we just decided to start the affiliate." The Saratoga County affiliate of Rebuilding Together has six "work days" each spring. Participation has increased steadily since the spring of 2004, with nearly 350 volunteers turning out this weekend and last to help their neighbors at 30 work-sites across the county.

This past Saturday, Nancy Bisenius was already feeling much safer in her home as she watched a crew of 13 volunteers, all wearing bright-green Rebuilding Together T-shirts, put on a new roof and rear door, install energy-efficient windows that can be locked, and lay new flooring in several rooms of her mobile home.

"It's great to know that people still care, there are really great people here today," she said.

Rebuilding Together organizes crews of volunteers to work at each job site, each supervised by a site captain who has some construction experience.

Dan Larkin, Michelle Larkin's husband, was the site captain at Bisenius's home. A state trooper for 21 years, Dan said that he had a good crew, including some of his fellow state troopers, some teenagers, and a number of other volunteers.

Dottie Rucinski, a site captain who worked at two sites this past weekend, said that none of Rebuilding's work could happen without volunteers.

A retired union carpenter who moved to Clifton Park from Boston, Rucinski said that she is no longer able to do enough carpentry to make a living, but enjoys helping people while drawing on her skills.

"The people we help are just so happy, they're thrilled," she said, "You can't get paid to see that kind of happiness."

At another job site, off of Coy Road in Greenfield, homeowners Tammy and John Willis oversaw a crew of 55 volunteers who installed new siding, rain gutters, kitchen cabinets and counters.

Tammy explained that the couple has a son with cerebral palsy, and that the Rebuilding volunteers were also installing safety features, including handrails and thresholds, to help help him navigate more easily.

Tom Malatesta of the Town of Saratoga and his son Joseph were putting siding on the Willis's home. "I enjoy helping people who need it," Tom said. "It's a great experience."

Though Malatesta had no previous construction experience, he said that it was easy enough to learn, and that he'd be working all weekend.

Homeowners looking to have their home rehabilitated submit applications to Rebuilding's board, which then does a review process that includes visiting sites and assessing needs.

Larkin stressed that rebuilding is not to be confused with the popular reality TV show "Extreme Home Makeover."

"That show is very sexy. This isn't sexy, this is just getting stuff done," she said. "But what is exciting is that we're getting 350 people to come out and help their neighbors."

And the help is not just in the form of manual labor. Larkin said that many local businesses donate money, and also mentioned that some local buildings suppliers donate credits to allow the agency to purchase materials needed for their work.

It's all about helping neighbors, and Larkin said that she thinks: "People can relate to helping people to stay in their homes... I'm amazed at the generosity of people."

©The Saratogian 2007

Reader Comments

Added: Friday April 27, 2007 at 02:01 PM EST
Rebuilding Together Saratoga County

I want to remind anyone reading this article that we work in Saratoga County. Applications and/or information can be found on our website www.rebuildingtogethersaratoga.com or call us at 695-3315.

Michelle Larkin, 
Saratoga Springs, NY

Added: Friday April 27, 2007 at 06:34 AM EST
Volunteerism Alive and Well

Many thanks to this team of volunteers, donations made by area businesses etc. to assist people in need in their area community The work and appreciation from the families that receive the generosity of warm hearts and helping hands is something that doesn't have to be on TV as it is seen daily in the community;which allows people to stay in their homes with a little help from so many caring individuals. I would hope that this group could branch out into neighboring towns and villages and create this same work of generous spirit and togetherness that really creates a community

Adrienne Hull, 
Corinth, New York

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