A group of volunteers was hard at work recently helping spruce up Jim Hopkins’ home. Hopkins, who inherited his Rancho Cordova house from his parents, hasn’t been able to keep up the place due to medical issues.

“It was a rough looking home and not something you’d want to see when someone comes off the freeway and enters Rancho Cordova,” said Hopkins.

Hopkins’ Cordova Meadows home was identified as a place that could use support from Rebuilding Together Sacramento. He was one of seven homeowners selected to receive home improvements free of charge on their Fall Rebuild Day.

Volunteers worked on his home from morning until afternoon. They gutted and trimmed the yard, removed chain link fencing, built a new fence, painted rooms, and removed old carpeting. Republic Services even provided dumpsters and performed a special pick up service for the renovation at no cost.

“I had given up, and what they’ve done for me has given me a new life,” said Hopkins. “I’ve got something to look forward to. I wasn’t happy, and I was stuck. I had no recourse. I had no resources.”

Rebuilding Together Sacramento plans to continue working with Hopkins on additional repairs, including an updated electrical system in his master bedroom and bathroom.

“They have given me a new existence. Now I’m happy as a clam!” said Hopkins.

Rebuilding Together Sacramento has partnered with the City of Rancho Cordova over the last two years to work on projects throughout the community. The organization has supported local homeowners to nonprofits like Soil Born Farms, and made lasting changes.

“Rebuilding Together Sacramento is a great partner with the City in helping us renew some of our older neighborhoods,” said Vice Mayor David Sander. “It’s very important for us to be sure that these long-term citizens who built our community are able to stay here as long as they can.”

Rebuilding Together Sacramento plans to hold a second rebuild day in Rancho Cordova in the spring. Stay tuned to the City’s website at www.CityOfRanchoCordova.org for ways to apply for help or give back by volunteering.

Rebuilding Together began in 1974 and has since become the largest non-profit, volunteer home rehabilitation organization in America. The Sacramento affiliate launched in 1991 as a barn raising activity to help low-income homeowners in need of home repairs. Twenty-four years later Rebuilding Together Sacramento has helped improve over 5,267 homes and 92 community facilities. Learn more at http://rebuildingtogethersacramento.org/.