Archive for category: News

Fall is upon us with the golden colors gathering at our feet but, to some it means worry that they won’t be able to clean it all up. Many of our low-income homeowners dread the coming of the fall and winter seasons because of the extra expense of yard clean-up or snow removal, and many just stay housebound, trying hard to ignore the situation. Many get some help from friends or relatives but there are so many that have no one to help. Then there are those needed repairs that just keep piling up. What is a person to do? Then a small brochure holder at a local store catches your eye, it’s an application for Rebuilding Day. This one sheet of green paper may just be your savior. Filling it out takes no time at all and you mail it off to Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities, an organization that has been helping our community neighbors in need or over 30 years at no charge to the homeowner. Now you wait to hear whether you have been chosen to receive help or are there others more in need than you.

Until this year when new funding came in, RTMC was struggling and had to cut some programs such as emergency repairs. But, because of renewed funding, we are back up and running all programs.

We are a small chapter of Rebuilding Together, a national non-profit organization and because of our size we may not be able to fund every request unless special funding comes in from the county or another one-time special grant. We wish to commend our mountain neighbors who have been yearly supporters of RTMC as you are the backbone of our continued existence and an example to all of the importance of community support of our mountain communities.

If you can’t contribute a monetary amount but want to help in a physical presence sign up to volunteer on Rebuilding Day so you can carry the good you do year-round. To sign up, click on “VOLUNTEER APPLICATION” to the right.

Rebuilding Day on the last Saturday in April is probably one of the most satisfying gifts you can give to your neighborhood and to yourself for that kind of selfless giving makes you feel so good as never before, I kid you not!

You can reach us at: Box 3540

Blue Jay, Ca 92317

e-mail info@rtmc.build

website www.rtmc.build

phone 909-336-3910

In 2018, a new bank came to the mountains as a result of the acquisition of The First Mountain Bank by First Foundation Bank, founded in 2007. For the purpose of this article, we are referring to the Running Springs branch, which became good neighbors in no time at all. Like the old TV show Cheers, First foundation Bank is a bank “where everyone knows your name”.

But the Rebuilding Together part of this story begins in 2021 when one of our board members took in some brochures and applications for Rebuilding Day to see if they would display them in the bank. Teresa and Francine agreed to do so as one of them knew of the work we did in the community. They wanted to give a grant of $250.00 but would have to send it to the corporate office for approval. Now the story gets remarkable. Sylvia Figueroa, the Director of Community Development for First Foundation Bank, looked things over and said they could afford to give us more. After a cordial brunch in Lake Arrowhead Village with four or five Rebuilding Together board members and Sylvia and two more of her staff, a big check was designated for $10,000 for the next year. However, when the real check was opened it was $20,000, representing a grant for two years. Needless to say, we were floored. We have since received two additional grants bringing the total to $35,000, good neighbors indeed! The bank has grown and are now in five states with 29 branches and we wish them continued success.

Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities is one of the smallest chapters of the national organization RT Inc., but we have been servicing the mountain communities for 31 years, small but mighty. In the last couple of years, we have struggled with funding, as it has been down for most nonprofits. But, we have carried on in spite of this, primarily from the generosity of good neighbors.

Robert Frost once wrote,” Good fences make good neighbors”. Frost knew, of course, that fences only blind us from the trouble of our neighbors. Thank God we have very few fences blinding our community and it’s needs, and with the help of those like First Foundation Bank and others we maintain mountain strong. Join us in the pledge to keep neighbors Safe, Warm and Dry.

Contact us to help or to receive help

RTMC P.O. Box 3540

Blue Jay Ca 92317

909-336-3910

e-mail info@rtmc.build

Fire ravaged Los Angeles County this month, thousands of homes have been destroyed leaving neighborhoods unrecognizable. Our mountain neighborhoods sympathize with those caught up in this conflagration, as we have experienced the same over the years. The helplessness, uncertainty, chaos and mind-numbing worry they must be feeling. They must feel so small and insignificant when they are driven out of their homes leaving everything behind in a wall of fire.

Millions are now pouring in from all over the world from those who have visited or have some connection to the neighborhoods affected by the fires. These heritage communities renew memories of things that will never be the same again.

Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities helps our neighbors in need make repairs to their homes to keep our neighborhoods strong and memorable for all of us. With a simple motto of keeping homeowners Safe, Warm, and Dry. We lift weights from those who don’t have the funds to remove them. Each year neighbors come together and volunteer to work together to remove the worries of others and feel the great exhilaration of giving.

We have a good deal of history in our mountains that we need to protect for future generations. Sometimes this can be done by simply making sure we create defensible spaces around our homes. As we know, for every year that passes, it seems to be harder and harder for some to get that space clear. Rebuilding Day is a great time to create that space for others and feel the swell of secret pride we hold inside afterwards. April 26^th is just around the corner and sign ups are starting for individuals, groups or families so don’t miss out on the rewarding feeling of your heart growing through service to others.

We have 5 homes this year as Rebuilding Day projects on an unfortunately small budget. We are encouraging those of you who can, to contribute to Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities now so that we can continue our mission in the future. Contact information is as follows.

RTMC P.O. Box 3540 Blue Jay Ca 92317

909-336-3910

March is just days away and before we know it Rebuilding Day in April will be here. This is our 30^th year serving our local mountain communities. We would like to have been able to pull out all the stops to do some major “snowmageddon” repairs, but we are unable to because we are currently underfunded for the kind of damage done last winter. We have gotten several grants and donations in the past year from the county, corporations, other non-profits and of course our local neighbors. But current donations are dwarfed by the costs of repairs. We have had to turn down so many of our neighbor’s requests because of the extent and scope of the repairs needed. Turning down people breaks our hearts.

We were, with the help of a $50,000 County grant, able to sign contracts to reroof two homes and hopefully have a little left for additional emergency repairs. This is but one example and there are many more. Remember, we offer year-round emergency repairs for those meeting the same requirements of low income as required for Rebuilding Day. So, if you can give or know friends or employers that want to help keep our mountain communities “mountain strong” reach out to give.

Rebuilding Day is scheduled to happen on Saturday, April 27^th, and we look forward to seeing our loyal local volunteers turn out. So, contact us soon to reserve a spot on team Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities.

We are here to keep others warm, safe, and dry, as always.

Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities

P. O. Box 3540

Blue Jay Ca. 92317

909-336-3910

October 31^st is the deadline for applications for the 2024 Rebuilding Day, so don’t miss out, apply today. Residency, home-ownership, and low-income requirements are in place as usual. This year we have raised the maximum income amount to a level in line with county standards so more people can be considered. In November the selection committee will be inspecting all the properties who have applied for 2024 Rebuilding Day. Upon completion of the selection, all applicants will be informed as to their status.

Once selections have been made, the organizational ball gets rolling recruiting and organizing our team of House Captains, defining the scope of the repairs that will be made to each home and time-lining the processes needed, such as preparatory work to be done ahead of Rebuilding Day and all the seemingly small things that go into a successful Rebuilding Day.

Greater interest will be given to enlisting community volunteers this year as we have seen a marked drop in overall participation year over year. I am always told what a great job we do and what a great asset we are to the mountain communities, and I want that to continue So, become a Re-builder this year and watch your heart swell with pure joy.

Be on the lookout for those in need and tell them about Rebuilding Together and the work we do, and not just on Rebuilding Day, but 365 days a year with our Emergency Repair Program.

See you on the last Saturday in April!

Contact us at:

RTMC P.O. Box 3540

Blue Jay, CA 92317

909-336-3910