Photographer: Matthew Turri/Saratogian

The Saratogian - By ANN MARIE FRENCH
Sunday, April 20, 2008

GANSEVOORT — The Gee family found themselves a bit overwhelmed by the volunteers who showed up on the doorstep of their home Saturday morning.

“No one has ever done anything for me before like this,” said Calvin Gee. “This is quite a project.”

The project includes rebuilding a deck off the front of their home to accommodate a wheelchair lift they will be installing. The door leading to that deck will be replaced, as will the steps leading from the back door. The porch area is getting new walls and the bathroom will get a new coat of paint. Beyond those identified tasks, other volunteers will rake leaves and pick up fallen branches in the yard.

This event marks the fifth anniversary of the establishment of a local chapter of Rebuilding Together.

Founded in 2003 when Michelle Larkin gathered friends and family members to a meeting and asked for their commitment to helping neighbors in need, Rebuilding Together Saratoga Count (RTSC) has grown in size each year. Its Web site, www.rebuildingtogethersaratoga.com, states 5 projects were completed in 2004 with 100 volunteers. By 2007, the nonprofit saw 517 volunteers working together to complete 30 projects.

Each spring, RTSC organizes several work weekends with multiple projects completed at different locations throughout Saratoga County. In addition, a fall work day is completed in September. The projects are selected after reviewing applications submitted by or on behalf of local homeowners.

To qualify, homeowners must own their own home, live in Saratoga County and be elderly, disabled or low-income. The goal of the nonprofit is to keep people living in warmth, safety and independence. Working under the motto of “neighbors helping neighbors,” RTSC has found a solid group of citizens willing to take part in the annual projects.

Don Stewart has been a volunteer for the organization since its inception and is serving as the House Captain for the project at the Gee home this weekend. His family works closely with Carol and Scott Fowler and a number of students from Schuylerville High School. While their individual friendships with Larkin got them involved, it has been the experience of helping others that keeps them coming back year after year.

Unique about their particular team is that many of the volunteers are high school students. The Fowler children, Lydia and Peter, were on site participating as well, and they brought along friends. Stewart’s own children had participated while in school and continue to be active in the national Rebuild Together program organized through their universities.

For Katie Boghosian, 13, she said the opportunity to help other people in the community is the best part of being involved. Katie, Jessica Luhmann, also 13, and Lydia Fowler, 12, spent most of Saturday raking leaves and cleaning up fallen branches.

Tom Miller, an engineer by trade, originally got involved with RTSC through his son’s cub scout pack. Feeling like the project gave his son a sense of community, Miller decided he enjoyed the work and has continued to volunteer. Miller and Stewart do site inspections on the project sites prior to the full weekend dates to assess the problems identified in the application and determine supply needs.

“When we come to inspect it is often the tip of the iceberg,” Stewart said. “We tend to find lots of other stuff that isn’t even mentioned in the application.” Stewart said many people are afraid to ask for the help they need. He is part of a group that volunteers to take care of emergency work throughout the year. Over the winter, the Gees had their bathroom floor replaced and a new toilet installed.

“They deserve a lot of credit,” said Gee. “They are spending a lot of time and doing a lot of work.” Gee, 86, said he’s gotten to an age where he just can’t do the work that needs to be done anymore. A World War II veteran, spending time in the European Theatre, and a volunteer firefighter for 20 years, Gee is not accustomed to having things done for him.

But for the volunteers it is the people like Calvin Gee that keep them returning year after year. Not only do the kids have an opportunity to get to know the families, many of whom are veterans, the adults find that connection important too.

What keeps Scott Fowler coming back, he said, is the people that he helps. “The guys who have done lots of stuff for the country but the country hasn’t done a lot for them.”