Rebuilding Day 2025

May 3rd, 2025 was a life-transforming day for seven area homeowners. Their homes were made safer, their dignity restored, and their ability to age safely in place increased dramatically all in one magnificent community day of service.

Duong and Tuyet — They are homeowners in a Habitat for Humanity community and had talented volunteers from Flying Colors Painting Company and Lacey Rotary paint their home.

Our dedicated wheelchair ramp building crew from the First United Methodist Church

Men’s Group built a wheelchair ramp for Tuyet. Tuyet especially appreciated the ramp

because she loves her garden and the ramp allows her to safely access both her home

and garden.

James — Volunteers from Stewart Title and the Hawks Prairie Rotary painted James'

home in Tumwater. Why was this so important? Because volunteers had spent weeks

installing new windows, new trim, and new siding. Painting was the “icing on the

cake/finishing touch” for James’ home’s exterior.

Rebuilding Together Thurston County didn’t ignore the interior. Multiple faucets were replaced, new flooring and an ADA height toilet were installed, numerous plumbing leaks were fixed, and safety items were provided to keep James safe in his home including GFCI outlets, grab bars, and a CO detector.

Grant funds from Thurston County will be used to install a new roof for this disabled veteran before the end of the year.

Jeff — He has the honor of being our “largest and most intensive” Rebuilding Day project this

year! Volunteers from Intercity Transit and Georgia Pacific worked alongside RTTC’s

project manager to dramatically improve Jeff’s living conditions.

Jeff’s two decks and entryway stairs were rotten and dangerous, so both were removed and new ones installed. Windows were also repaired so they wouldn’t leak into his home any longer.

A plumbing leak was repaired in his kitchen and new laminate flooring was installed in

Jeff’s bathroom, hallway, and living room. The laminate flooring replaced worn,

dangerous, trip hazard carpet.

The bathroom was the biggest transformation because Jeff’s bathtub was literally falling through the floor. Nate, our project manager, worked alongside volunteers to “gut” the bathroom and install new supports, new flooring, new walk in shower, new vanity, and more.

Definitely a life changing experience for Jeff.

Thank you to the City of Olympia and Thurston County for helping fund Jeff’s project!

Linda — USDA grant funds funded new windows, plumbing and siding repairs, and

secure hand railings for Linda’s home.

Her home desperately needed painting and volunteers from TwinStar Credit Union (now Peak Credit Union) and John Pope II High School students started the painting process on Rebuilding Day.

Volunteers from the Thurston County Realtors did a great job finishing the painting on May 15th, their annual Day of Caring event.

Valencia — She loves her home centrally located near Lion’s Park in Olympia. Her health

issues leave her housebound most of the time and she needed a helping hand with the

landscape that had become overgrown and unmanageable.

Her washer and dryer, located in a small accessory building, had broken and leaked water ruined the floor. The issues resulted in Valencia’s caregiver taking her laundry home with him, certainly not convenient or easy.

On Rebuilding Day, volunteers removed unwanted items from her property and cut back her overgrown landscape.

Over the summer, a volunteer repaired and replaced the accessory unit’s sub-floor and floor. A contractor partner, DL Henricksen, donated its services to install new drywall and PCI Pest Control exterminated a very prolific moisture ant colony.

Nate, our project manager, repaired the plumbing, installed new insulation, and installed a new washer and dryer.

City of Olympia grant funds also paid for a new dishwasher to replace a broken one.

Sheryl — Volunteers from Olympic Plumbing Technology painted Sheryl’s home and

completed minor repairs on Rebuilding Day.

The First United Methodist Men’s Group built a new deck to replace a hazardous old one and repaired her stairs.

Volunteers from Oly Fed and Caldwell Construction helped paint and replace water damaged

siding.

Grant funds from Thurston County will pay for a new roof for Sheryl’s home before the end of the year.

Thank You letter from one of this year's Rebuilding Day homeowners.

David and Karen — David is disabled and Karen is a caregiver and they needed some

help from Rebuilding Together Thurston County.

Lifespan Construction provided some of its talented crew to assist with David and Karen's repairs. Rava and the crew installed new windows to replace broken ones, installed window trim, replaced broken deck boards, built new stairs with a secure handrail, and installed a concrete walkway to replace a very unsafe one.

Volunteers from evergreenDirect Credit Union, at David and Karen’s request, painted the home a lovely purple.