News>Headquarters staff, city work together to rebuild community
Photos
Master Sgt. Tenisha Mitchell of Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service scrapes old paint in a house she is helping refurbish. Sergeant Mitchell and others from Headquarters AFRC, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., spent their weekends in April sprucing up five houses in the City of Warner Robins as part of the Rebuilding Together volunteer program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Joe Mather)
Chief Master Sgts. Dianne Bowe and Tom Kamps discuss replacing screens as Senior Master Sgt. Tim Foley reaches for another screen for a house they helped rehab April 19 in Warner Robins, Ga., through a volunteer program called Rebuilding Together. They are assigned to Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and worked with other volunteers in April to install new windows and screens, put in a new kitchen floor, and paint the outside of the house. (U.S. Air Force photo/1st Lt. Lisa Kostellic)
by 1st Lt. Lisa Kostellic
Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
4/22/2008 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Five homes in the City of Warner Robins are getting long-needed facelifts on weekends in April thanks to people in the Air Force Reserve Command headquarters here.
Reba Dinkins' house is one of those in the local area that headquarters people are working on through a charity effort called Rebuilding Together.
Rebuilding Together is the largest national nonprofit home repair organization. It spans the country with 225 affiliates, one of which is in Warner Robins. These volunteers help low-income homeowners by providing material and labor for routine maintenance projects they have not been able to afford or accomplish on their own.
Work completed on Ms. Dinkins' home included new windows, a new laminated tile floor for her kitchen and new exterior paint.
Chief Master Sgt. Dianne Bowe is the first sergeant of the 951st Reserve Support Squadron, which provides administrative support for military people assigned to the headquarters. She was the team leader for Ms. Dinkins' home. The chief said the opportunity to help someone who has limited means to help themselves is very important to her.
"I can't help but think that one day we'll find ourselves physically limited by time taking its toll on us," Chief Bowe said. "There will come a time when I won't be able to do everything I can do now, and I know I'd appreciate the help we're providing today."
Ms. Dinkins showed her heartfelt gratitude for all the work the AFRC volunteers did on her house.
"I am so thankful," she said. "I love all of you. I really do."
Providing assistance to the elderly is just one of Rebuilding Together's focuses. Volunteers also help disabled veterans, families with children and disaster victims.
People can learn more about the Rebuilding Together by going to its Web site at www.rebuildingtogether.org. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)
