Christmas in April * St. Mary's County National Volunteer Organization

18 th Annual National Rebuilding Day Accomplishments

With the help of 1,800 volunteers, on Saturday, April 26, 2008, Christmas in April * St. Mary's County repaired another 23 homes and 1 community project. Thank you everyone.

Together, over the past year, we:

Repaired or replaced over 14 roofs

Repaired or built 7 wheelchair ramps and improved 6 walkways

Repaired and/or Replaced over 40 windows and doors

Did electrical repairs and/or electrical upgrades on 8 homes

Plumbing repairs on 12 homes

Installed hand railings and grab bars on 10 homes

Did heating repairs at 3 homes; whereby Christmas in April * St. Mary's purchased two new heating systems, and volunteers installed the new heating systems

Accomplished numerous carpentry and siding work, repairing interior and exterior walls, and rebuilding floors

Replaced door knobs and faucets (especially for those homeowners who suffer from arthritis and other medical difficulties)

Focusing on safety, our volunteers also

Rebuild entranceways for safer access to and from the homes

Upgraded electrical fixtures for improved lighting inside homes and repaired dangerous electrical outlets

Installed or replaced faulty or missing smoke alarms and installed fire extinguishers in each home, and

Installed carbon monoxide detectors, where needed.

ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN APRIL

Christmas in April * St. Mary's County, Maryland, Inc. is a local chapter of Rebuilding Together, a national volunteer organization that, in partnership with the community rehabilitates the homes of low-income homeowners, particularly the elderly and disabled, so that they may live in warmth, safety, and independence. We also provide help through work on community projects in St. Mary's County.

In the past eighteen years, the Christmas in April * St. Mary's County, Maryland, Inc., volunteers have repaired over 542 homes; 13 community nonprofit facilities have received help with repairs; 30,100 people have shared their time and talents; and over $4 million in repairs have been completed.

Volunteer registration officially begins on January 1, 2009, however, we are always looking for volunteers to serve on our committees and help with various aspects of our program. Volunteer sign-up is on-going, but we ask prospective volunteers to contact us prior to April 2, 2009, since it takes a lot of logistical planning to prepare for each one of our National Rebuilding Days.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2007

On Saturday, April 29, 2007, approximately 1,800 volunteers worked at 22 homes sharing their time and talents to help improve the quality of life for our fellow neighbors. In addition, there were hundreds of individuals who contributed “behind the scenes” with financial donations, contributions of refreshments, with logistical needs, and assistance with skilled trades, materials, and supplies.

Read a Summary of Christmas in April * St. Mary's work for the Year 2007. Click here to download the 2007 Christmas in April * St. Mary's Newsletter.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2008

Over the past 18 years, Christmas in April * St. Mary's County volunteers

Have repaired over 542 homes and 13 community nonprofit facilities

Have totaled 30,100 people sharing their time and talents

Have made home repairs worth more than $4 million to improve the living conditions of low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners in our community

Among the Year 2008 homeowner recipients and their immediate family members, we repaired 23 homes and 1 community project on our National Rebuilding Day of April 26, 2008. We also assisted one family with a new wheelchair ramp in October 2007; replaced one roof in May 2008, and repaired another 2 roofs (October 2007 and June 2008), and did sheetrock ceiling work.

On our National Rebuilding Day, we helped 45 low-income recipients, of which 21 were elderly, 20 were disabled, and low-income families with 5 children and grandchildren were assisted with home repairs.

14 of the homeowners/families assisted this past year had annual incomes of less than $12,000

5 of the homeowners/families assisted this past year had annual incomes between $12,001-$18,000

4 of the homeowners assisted this past year had annual incomes of more than $18,000.

We also touched the lives of numerous women and children in repairing the interim women's and children's shelter, known as Leah's House, in Valley Lee, MD.

We are presently working on the 2008 newsletter. Copies will be available by mid-August 2008.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR...
Monthly planning meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month (except August), at the Burch Oil Co. meeting room, located on Rt. 235 in Hollywood (near Hyperspace). Since we try to reach out to as many people as possible, our meeting schedule fluctuates: one month, we meet at 8:30 am; the following month's meeting will be at 7 pm. You can request to be placed on our monthly postcard mailing or monthly email mailing to be kept up-to-date on our schedule of events.

Volunteers are needed throughout the year. You don't need to be a carpenter or plumber to help with planning activities, offering office support (filing and typing), fundraising activities, or helping to distribute homeowner applications. Come and join us. Your help is welcome. Of course, if you are a plumber or carpenter, sometimes we need your help during the year too-for emergency repairs.

STARTING POINT
When the members of our House Selection Committee visited the homeowners this past year who had applied for assistance, they identified three major problems: (1) accessibility issues--requests for wheelchair ramps; (2) old, deteriorating, and steep roofs; and (3) safety concerns--the need for hand railings, smoke alarms (both regular alarms and alarms for the hearing-impaired), CO monitors, and fire extinguishers. The House Selection Committee's report was our starting point in preparing for April 26, 2008 (our National Rebuilding Day).

In preparation for April 25, 2009, we are distributing copies of our 2009 Application for Assistance from now until mid-October 2008. The members of our House Selection Committee will then begin their work in mid-October through December visiting everyone in St. Mary's County, MD, who applies for assistance from Christmas in April * St. Mary's.

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR...

Monthly planning meetings are held the third Wednesday of each month (except August), at the Burch Oil Co. meeting room, located on Rt. 235 in Hollywood (near Hyperspace). Since we try to reach out to as many people as possible, our meeting schedule fluctuates: one month, we meet at 8:30 am; the following month’s meeting will be at 7 pm. You can request to be placed on our monthly postcard mailing or monthly email mailing to be kept up-to-date on our schedule of events.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are preparing for the 11th Annual Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival, to take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, 2008. We are looking for volunteers to help us with preparations in distributing brochures and displaying posters prior to the Festival. We are also looking for volunteers to assist us during the Festival with children's activities, helping with set up and clean up, and volunteering in one of the buildings—greeting visitors, and many other volunteer assignments. Let us know if you can help out.

FINANCIAL NEEDS

Christmas in April * St. Mary's County (an affiliate of Rebuilding Together) is grateful for every financial contribution (from $1 on up). For our major financial donors, we have three levels:

“Neighborhood Builder” – an individual, group, or company that donates at least $1,000 to become a co-sponsor of a home. They will receive recognition of this donation by having their name on a board outside the home they are helping to co-sponsor; their name on a large board at the volunteer picnic; their name listed in our thank you ad in The Enterprise newspaper; their name listed as a Neighborhood Builder in our yearly newsletter; and will be receiving a plaque stating their status as a Neighborhood Builder. In those cases, where the individual or group is a repeat Neighborhood Builder, they will be given a plaque insert to be added to the plaque they have already been awarded.

“Community Builder” - an individual, group, or company that donates at least $2,000 to become a sponsor of a home. They will receive recognition of this donation by having their name on a board outside the home they are helping to sponsor; their name on a large board at the volunteer picnic; their name listed in our thank you ad in The Enterprise newspaper; their name listed as a Community Builder in our yearly newsletter; and will be receiving a plaque stating their status as a Community Builder. In those cases, where the individual or group is a repeat Community Builder, they will be given a plaque insert to be added to the plaque they have already been awarded.

“County Builder” - an individual, group, or company that donates at least $2,500 to become a sponsor of a home. They will receive recognition of this donation by having their name on the back of the volunteer tee shirts; their name on a board outside the home they are helping to sponsor; their name on a large board at the volunteer picnic; their name listed in our thank you ad in The Enterprise newspaper; their name listed as a County Builder in our yearly newsletter; and will be receiving a plaque stating their status as a County Builder. In those cases, where the individual or group is a repeat County Builder, they will be given a plaque insert to be added to the plaque they have already been awarded.

All prospective County Builders need to let Christmas in April * St. Mary's County know of their upcoming donation prior to February 28 in time to get on the volunteer tee shirts.

MATERIAL NEEDS

Donations of new building materials are always welcome. Give us a call with your suggestions. We always need paint brushes, buckets, safety masks and gloves, not to mention trash bags, fire extinguishers (to leave with each home owner so that they may be more safe in their homes) and smoke alarms.

To volunteer, contact us at (301) 863-2905 or email mary.chasen@christmasinaprilsmc.org .

WE GIVE SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2008 MAJOR SPONSORS

County Builders
A&B Trucking; ADF Bingo; Bank of America; Harold Berg (Dejana Truck & Utility Equip. Co.); Boeing; Booz-Allen Hamilton; Burch Oil Co. & Employees; Century 21/New Millennium; Cherry Cove; CMI General Contractors, Inc.; CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation Range & Engineering Services); Constellation Energy; Steve Dyson Hauling; Dyson Building Center; Eagan-McAllister Associates & Employees; FannieMae Foundation; Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship (Paul Hall Center); Honeywell & Employees; Leonardtown High Schoo; Lexington Park Rotary Club; Lockheed Martin (Owego); Maryland State Highway Administration Employees; Mt. Zion United Methodist Church; Northrop Grumman; Mrs. Kitty Parlett and family; PNC Bank; St. Mary's College of Maryland; St. Mary's County Public Works Department; St. Mary's Hospital Employees & Medical Staff; United Site Services; United Way of St. Mary's; Waste Management of Southern Maryland; and Wyle Laboratories.

Community Builders
Eastern GRC; Lexington Park United Methodist Men; McGrath Contractors; The MIL Corporation; Mechanicsville Lions Club; NAVAIR Propulsion and Power Engineering; Friends and Family of Leonard (Al) Potts; St. Mary's County Public Schools; and St. Paul's United Methodist Church

Neighborhood Builders
AJ Quade Electrical; Steve Arnold (A&K Plumbing); ASEC, Inc.; Bay Forest Tree Removal; Patrick & Hans Boecher; Bozick Distributing; Robert T. Brown (Shop Cove Ice); Buck Distributing; Cadillac Jack; Chaney Enterprises; Great Mills High School NJROTC; Congressman Steny Hoyer; Knights of Columbus #9968 Immaculate Heart of Mary Church; Leonardtown Elementary; Maryland Bank & Trust; Mattingly Electric; Mechanicsville Building & Supply Co., Metro Restaurant & Janitorial Supplies; Cap Mona; Richard Montgomery Plumbing; Naval Air Station and NAVAIR, Patuxent River; Optimists of Mechanicsville; Optimist Club of St. Maries; Park Hall Elementary; Denny Patton (Patton Plumbing); Patuxent Presbyterian Curch; Seventh District Optimists; Southern Maryland Electric Co-Op (SMECO); St. Mary's County Commissioners; St. Mary's County Fair Board; St. Mary's Parish Trinity Episcopal Church; St. Mary's Watermen's Association; Sunshine Catering; Tice Electric Co.; Thos. Somerville Co.; Tri-County Rent-a-Tent; Webster Field Employees; Baron Wilson, Plumber; and Delegate John Wood, Jr.

Media Sponsors
The BayNet; B&B Publishing (Brandy Blackstone); The County Times; The Enterprise; The Tester; Public Affairs Office; WMDM/WPTX Southern MD Radio; SAN; and The Washington Post So. MD Edition

Logistical Support
In addition to the volunteers that worked on the 24 different sites for Christmas in April's National Rebuilding Day this year, and the 2 homes we helped repair during the year, were the people providing logistical support for each one of the sites. Work begins several weeks earlier when volunteers from SMECO visit each home and install safety covers on the overhead electrical wires where needed. SMECO volunteers also help on our National Rebuilding Day when the electricity needs to be turned off for safety and repairs and then turned back on after the work is done. Then United Site Services comes and places porto-potties at each one of the sites. Chaney Enterprises follows up with the delivery of the gravel needed at sites. We salute the following individuals, groups and companies for their assistance in providing this logistical support: A&B Trucking (Bonnie Sternack); Harold Berg (Berg & Son); George Erichsen , Richard Tarr, Bobby Cooper, John Raley, Joseph Brooks, Mike Herbert, and Wil Mattingly (St. Mary's Co. Public Works Dept.); Barry King (Calvert Co. Public Works); Steve Dyson Hauling; Eastern GRC; NAS Public Works; Waste Management of Southern MD; Ray Carter and the other members of the Maryland State Highway Administration; Howard Thompson; Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Paul Hall Center; and Bubby Knott, Great Mills Trading Post. Thank you also to the volunteers who helped during the prior week's preparations: Anne Marum, Ann Hawes, Tammy Pilkerton, Vince Williams, and Dave Ryan.

13th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser
We are grateful to CMI General Contractors, Inc., for sponsoring the annual Spring Golf Tournament. This was the 12th Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Christmas in April * St. Mary's County, and once again it was sponsored by the CMI General Contractors, Inc., of Charlotte Hall, MD. We are very grateful to Wayne Lockman, and the members of the golf tournament committee: Betsy Parlett, Joann Baierlein, Loretta McGrath, Charlie Russell , John Guy, Pete Traggorth, Steve Hancock, Teeni Spell, Mike Smith, Larry Greenwell, and John K. Parlett, Jr. The “CMI GC team” netted over $15,000 for Christmas in April * St. Mary's County.

Salute to Former Homeowner Recipient
In April 2004, Loretta Rule received home repair assistance from Christmas in April * St. Mary’s. Mrs. Rule then volunteered her time, and over the next several months, hand-made crafts that she donated to Christmas in April for sale at the Southern MD Farm-Life Festival held in the Fall of 2005, 2006 and 2007. What a wonderful way to say thank you, and we truly appreciate Loretta Rule’s generosity!

Extra Thank You’s!
Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship (Paul Hall Center) for giving our House Selection Committee members a place to meet, for sponsoring our February house captain/area coordinator/skilled trade “kick-off” dinner meeting, for providing logistical support at the Farm-Life Festival, feeding volunteer crews lunch, providing trash pick-up services, and filling in where support was needed.

Parlett Family for sponsoring the Southern Maryland Farm-Life Festival

Darene Kleinsorgen for co-chairing the So. MD Farm-Life Festival

Burch Oil Co. for continuing these past 18 years in giving Christmas in April a home, where we could hold our monthly meetings

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for loaning us your hall for our house captain and homeowner meetings;

Brandy Blackstone of B&B Publishing for updating our web site

Norma Clarke for all the help in designing/layout of the tee shirts

Thank you to everyone who contributed to make our 18th Annual Rebuilding Day a success.

Christmas in April * St. Mary's County would like to thank the Harry Lundberg School of Seamanship, Paul Hall Center for generously sponsoring our Appreciation Dinner held on February 7th, 2008. It was a wonderful evening, and a great opportunity to again express our thanks to the House Captains, Area Coordinators, Skilled Trades, Board of Directors and leaders on our Christmas in April *St. Mary's County Committees who volunteered their time and skills for the 2007 Christmas in April * St. Mary's County National Rebuilding Day.

2007-2008 Christmas in April * St. Mary’s Board of Directors
(as of September 10, 2007)

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