Rebuilding Together Update!

Published by Karise Blount on

We want to thank Susan Higgins, Ryan McNavage and the columbans that assisted on our latest Rebuilding Together project! Susan writes:

First a HUGE thank you to Ryan McNavage who has been leading St. Columba’s Rebuilding Together projects for 20 years! Starting in 2018, we co-House Captained together until 2024 when Ryan wanted to start enjoying Oxford, Maryland Day (also on the last Saturday of April). For the past 3 projects he worked with me on everything required of a House Captain (visiting the home, writing up job list, making supply list, shopping at Home Depot, working on site on first Saturday) except for working on the second Saturday. I appreciate his companionship and expertise in this effort! Thank you Ryan!!

And now a thank you to ALL of you. During the past two Saturdays about 40 St. Columbans worked at Ms Peterbark’s home to make the improvements listed below. When the folks from Rebuilding Together stopped by our site on Saturday, the project manager said that Ms Peterbark had applied to a DC water mitigation program for 3 years and was denied every time! He was extremely exciting to see the French drain since this should be a huge contributor to keeping water OUT of her home. He also had this response to my email with our final report: “Thank you as always to you and your entire team. St. Columba’s is always the gold standard by which we measure other NRD teams, and it was great to see your team put together another incredible project.”

Ms Peterbark was very appreciative and hospitable … bringing us water and cookies cupcakes on the second Saturday. And here are words of thanks from Ms Peterbark that she sent me this week: “Thank you so much for coming out and helping with the repairs and improvements at my home. I truly appreciate the time, effort, and care you put into getting everything taken care of. Thank you again. Best Wishes, Martina Peterbark”

Thank you all for for bringing your skills and patience and positive attitudes to this project!!!

And now, as I have told some of you, after co-leading and leading 7 Rebuilding Together efforts over the past 9 years (it didn’t happen in 2020 and 2021), I am ready to hand over the role to someone else. Happy to answer questions as new leadership steps in … and happy to volunteer my time swinging a hammer (unless I’m enjoying the Chesapeake Bay from Ryan’s sailboat)!

Thank you all!
Susan Higgins
House Captain

Renovations Made:

First Floor

  • Replaced her broken storm door (Thanks Gardell and Daniel and Helene!)
  • Secured a loose tile in her kitchen floor (Thanks Pickle and Alice!)
  • Installed threshold between kitchen and dining room (Custom made by John A!  Installed by Alice and Fletch!)
  • Replaced a ceiling light
  • Patched water damaged wall (Thanks Marc and Melissa!)
  • Replaced missing spindles and secured loose spindles along bannister (Thanks Philip!)
  • Installed smoke/CO detectors throughout the house (Thanks Claude and dad!)

Outside

  • Dug a French drain in backyard (Thanks Kristin, John W, Costas, Jonathan, Joe, Jamie, Will, and MORE!)
  • Removed vines from backyard fences
  • Cleaned off back patio
  • Built railing along porch steps (Thanks Fletch, Matthew, and Sophie!)
  • Built railing along top of basement steps (Thanks Aaron!)
  • Extended downspouts to front yard
  • Repaired brickwork along front steps (Thanks Robert, Maddie, and Sam!)
  • Install sump pump outside basement door (Thanks Ryan, Rick, Leo, and all the kids who hauled buckets of dirt away!)

Second Floor

  • Installed threshold between hallway and bathroom (Custom made by John A! Installed by Alice and Fletch!)
  • Fixed bathroom sink faucet so water doesn’t only trickle out & recaulk bathroom tub (Thanks John A!)
  • Fixed bedroom and closet doors so that they all close and latch correctly (Thanks Wes & Sully!)
  • Patched water damaged ceiling (Thanks Marc and Melissa!)

Basement

  • Replaced rotted out bottom basement step (Thanks Gardell and MK!)
  • Install new deadbolt in basement door (Thanks Pickle and George!)
  • Fixed leaking drain on utility sink (Thanks Gardell!)
  • Replace sump pump (Thanks Gardell!)
  • Secure railing to basement (Thanks Fletch!)

Categories: Care Ministries