What began as a leaking roof threatening a local veteran’s home became a community-wide effort to restore safety and comfort for a Highland family during National Rebuilding Day.

Members of the Highland Rotary Club partnered with Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley and Liberty Restoration to complete critical repairs on a Highland residence as part of the annual volunteer initiative, which mobilizes community organizations, businesses and residents to assist homeowners in need.

The project focused on a veteran whose home had suffered extensive damage from a leaking roof. Water intrusion over time had caused interior damage that had become increasingly difficult for the homeowner to manage.

“We had a home in Highland that needed some help with their roof,” said Jen Walters, a member of the Highland Rotary Club and business development manager with Liberty Restoration. “The roof was leaking, so Liberty Restoration took on the roof portion, and then we put together a volunteer team from Rotary and Liberty Restoration to do some interior work, painting and fixing drywall that had been damaged from water.”

Volunteers completed roofing repairs, interior painting, drywall restoration, stair repairs and other home improvements. Approximately six to seven volunteers worked on the Highland project, one of three homes selected this year for National Rebuilding Day efforts in Ulster and Dutchess counties. More than 60 volunteers participated across all three projects.

The effort was coordinated through Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley, a nonprofit organization that provides critical home repairs at no cost to qualifying homeowners.

“We provide critical home repairs that allow vulnerable homeowners to remain safe, healthy and independent in the homes they love,” said Executive Director Joe Ciardi. “Most of these people have lived in their homes for decades. Their homes are their memories, their families and their lives. We want to make sure owning a home doesn’t become a burden that forces vulnerable people out of it.”

Founded in 1992, Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley serves homeowners throughout Ulster and Dutchess counties, with a focus on veterans, senior citizens, people with disabilities and income-qualified residents. Repairs are funded through grants, donations, corporate sponsorships and volunteer labor.

According to Ciardi, the Highland veteran’s roof had been leaking throughout the winter, causing recurring water damage whenever it rained.

“Think about every time it rains and water is coming into your home and there’s no way for you to stop it,” Ciardi said. “That turns into mold. That turns into health issues. We were able to come in and put a new roof on the house, repair the stairs, pressure wash the home and paint inside. The gentleman just couldn’t keep up with the home anymore.”

The Highland project was made possible through a partnership involving Central Hudson, which sponsored the home; Liberty Restoration, which completed the roofing work; and Highland Rotary volunteers, who assisted with repairs and restoration.

Homeowners seeking assistance apply through Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley, where a house selection committee evaluates applications based on eligibility and the severity of repair needs. Once a project is approved, the organization coordinates volunteers, contractors and sponsors to complete the work.

For the Highland home, planning began weeks before National Rebuilding Day. Organizers assessed the property, identified needed repairs, secured materials and recruited volunteers. Roofing work was completed over approximately two days, followed by a volunteer workday dedicated to painting, drywall repairs and other improvements.

By the project’s completion, the home had received a new roof and multiple repairs designed to protect the property and improve the family’s quality of life for years to come.

Ciardi said demand for the organization’s services continues to grow. Rebuilding Together Hudson Valley currently has 24 approved projects scheduled this year, evenly divided between Ulster and Dutchess counties, with additional homeowners on waiting lists.

The organization hosts volunteer rebuilding events twice each year while continuing repair projects year-round.

“We pretty much exist for one reason, to make sure that owning a home doesn’t become a burden that forces vulnerable people out of it,” Ciardi said. “A lot of these homeowners have lived in their homes for decades. Their memories are there. Their families are there. They want to stay there, and we’re here to help make that possible.”

The Highland Rotary Club’s participation reflects Rotary International’s long-standing motto, “Service Above Self,” which encourages members to support their communities through volunteerism and charitable service.

“The motto at Rotary is ‘Service Above Self,’” Walters said. “Basically, anything I can do to try to live by that, sign me up.”

As housing costs continue to rise and major repairs remain out of reach for many homeowners, Ciardi said preserving existing housing has become increasingly important.

“The most affordable home you have is the one you’re already in,” he said. “We want to help people stay in their homes and not be displaced.”

For the volunteers who spent the day repairing a neighbor’s home, the project represented more than replacing shingles and repairing drywall. It was an opportunity to ensure a veteran and his family can continue living safely and comfortably in the home they cherish.