Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® Improve the Health and Safety of a Merle Hay Home
On September 27, Des Moines Area Association of REALTORS® volunteers made several repairs and upgrades that significantly improved the health and safety of home located near Merle Hay Mall.
Vicki is a veteran with disabilities from the Vietnam era, where she served as was an aviation storekeeper. Raised on the north side of Des Moines, Vicki graduated from Hoover in 1973 and purchased her first home in Saylorville township. The home was destroyed by fire over 11 years ago and Vicki lost everything. Fortunately, she was able to sell the land and purchase her current home where she is raising a grandson and great-grandson. As the main guardian of the young children, Vicki struggles to pay bills and buy groceries. Her only wish is to be able to provide a nice life for them. Once she found out she had been selected to have work done on her home, Vicki was overjoyed.
Vicki applied to Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines for assistance. During her initial home visit, the team noticed a lot of bees in a basement room. They contacted an exterminator, who removed a hive, the size of a basketball.
Volunteers then scraped lead paint from the home exterior and applied a fresh coat of paint to the walls in the kitchen and hallway. The 1954 home needed storm doors, not only for warmth but for security. The team also noticed that the front deck railing was loose and unsafe, and several windows were missing screens and/or glass.
The volunteers came from agencies including Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices First Realty, Iowa Realty Des Moines, REMAX Concepts, EXIT Realty Captial City, Coldwell Banker Mid-America Group, REALTORS, Keller Williams Greater Des Moines, and Hudson Rentals.
The volunteers from Des Moines Area Association of Realtors enjoy 
volunteering with Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines each year. Now in their second year of partnering with us on a workday, it’s a great opportunity for members to meet realtors from other agencies and unite for a good cause.
“I’m just so thankful for your organization and being selected,” Vickie said as she hugged and kissed her new screen door.
If you’re interested in learning more about Corporate Sponsorships or becoming a volunteer with Rebuilding Together Greater Des Moines, contact us.
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