Make A Difference Day 2025
by Friday Faraday
Maintaining a home is not just a matter of aesthetics; it's a commitment to the safety of yourself and your family. That brings us to Mrs. Barron-Wilson, one of 18 homeowners selected to receive needed safety and accessibility repairs as part of Rebuilding Together’s Make a Difference Day. Make a Difference Day is made possible by a generous grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation.
Mrs. Barron-Wilson is a ray of light that keeps you smiling and laughing throughout any conversation. We talked over zoom during the first snowfall of the season, and in between the laughs, it’s not evident that Mrs. Barron-Wilson suffers from chronic pain, but it greatly affects her mobility and everyday life. Initially, she applied to RTMC for more extensive repairs, but when RTMC team members came out to her home they noted the need for safety and accessibility repairs that even Mrs. Barron-Wilson overlooked.
Before the repairs, Mrs. Barron-Wilson would wait until her daughter would get home to take a bath because she didn’t have grab bars to support herself when trying to get out. When needing to go down into the basement, she would hold onto the wall for balance because of the lack of handrails. And when it came to fire safety equipment, Mrs. Barron-Wilson had outdated fire and carbon monoxide detectors that didn’t work, and no fire extinguisher.
Make a Difference Day is a unique experience for homeowners. However, what is even more of a surprise to homeowners including Mrs. Barron-Wilson was how much of a say they have in the process.
“They listened to me. That was the main thing. They listened to me and what I needed to get done. They wanted multiple grab bars in the bathroom by the toilet. But I told them, I need room to lean over. He listened, and I still felt like I had an upgrade to my house” — Angela Barron-Wilson said.
This work is also a unique experience for the volunteer team of carpenters from Local 10.
“The carpenters who return month after month are the ones that have a heart for this work. It is humbling to talk to a homeowner who is so deeply grateful for the work that union carpenters do. They are simple projects for us, but knowing that we are allowing seniors to safely get in and out of their homes or use their showers without risking a fall, is so satisfying. When we volunteer for a Rebuilding Together project, I know that we are making a positive difference in someone's life” — Tom Davis (Business Representative Local 10)
Mrs. Barron-Wilson knows the financial challenges faced by seniors and disabled individuals in maintaining their homes and affording necessary repair, which can present a sense of hopelessness. For many, programs like Rebuilding Together not just provide needed repairs but hope to those that have often been looked over. These homes are more than houses, they are lived histories that are looked to be passed down to the next generation, and having work done no matter how small or big is life changing for many homeowners.