🎉 Happy Birthday, Rebuild Upstate!
Twenty years ago, Rebuild Upstate began with a simple idea: everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
Two decades later, that idea has grown into more than 1,900 repaired homes, thousands of volunteers, and countless families able to remain safely in the homes they love.
At the heart of this work are the homeowners who open their doors, welcome us into their lives, and trust us to help care for the places they call home.
Ms. Betty embodies the spirit of our programs. She has called her home hers for more than 30 years. In that time, she has watched her children, grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren grow up there. Her home holds decades of memories, stories, laughter, and love.
Ms. Betty is lively, social, and deeply family-oriented. Even during her interview, the house was full of family members spending time together. Some of her favorite memories are the big cookouts she hosts, bringing family and friends together around a good meal and plenty of conversation.
For Ms. Betty, staying in her home means holding onto all of those memories and making new ones for years to come.
She came close to losing her home a few times, but with the support of friends and family, she was able to stay. Then, her roof began to cause serious problems. Water was leaking into the house, creating mold and other health concerns.
Ms. Betty reached out to Rebuild Upstate for help, and the Mauldin Methodist youth group answered the call. They spent a week working on Betty’s roof so she could continue living safely in the home she loves.
To no one’s surprise, Ms. Betty formed a special bond with the young volunteers. She has a natural gift for making people feel welcome, and the Rebuild Upstate volunteers quickly became part of the family.
“Mrs. Betty was so sweet and welcoming. She was so excited to share with her friends this beautiful thing we are doing to help her house,” said Kailyn Cooper, a freshman at Lander University who volunteered with her friends from Mauldin Methodist.
Everyone who talked about their experience had something positive to say about Betty.
“She seemed really nice, very appreciative, and welcoming of others,” said a youth volunteer who participated in the project.
For Ms. Betty, having a safe home is about more than having a roof over her head. It means having a place where her family and friends can gather, share a meal, laugh together, and make memories. Her new roof helps make sure those gatherings can continue.
And Ms. Betty has no plans to slow down. She hopes to remodel and update her home as much as possible. For now, she is enjoying what matters most: having her grandbabies and family together under one roof, just like she has for so many years.
Rebuild Upstate repairs more than homes. These repairs help homeowners, especially older adults, maintain safety, stability, and homeownership for years to come.
In our 20th Anniversary year, we are grateful to all who say yes to support our programs.
