Partnering with Rebuilding Together on Major Renovation Projects

Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro has partnered with Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit community-revitalization organization to help local communities and homeowners rebuild and improve lives throughout the area.

This year, the location's partnership efforts include donating time and materials to help rebuild a community center in the Bronx, NY, and a home on Staten Island, NY, that were destroyed in Hurricane Sandy.

“This is the right thing to do,” says Larry Landes, Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro president. “These communities help support all the employees in our Renewal by Andersen family so we feel it’s our obligation to help support these communities however we can. Plus, I really enjoy it.”

Bronx, NY

The Kingsbridge Heights Community Center in Bronx, NY, is a former police station that was transformed into a community center serving local seniors and children in the surrounding area. Fifteen employees from Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro, including company president, Larry Landes, donated their time and materials to help paint the center and build a large number of computer workstations for the community.

“I had a lot of fun working with my team on this project,” Landes says. “I’m really proud of them. They work hard all week and then they were happy to be out on a weekend getting their hands dirty to help others. It really makes you feel good to be part of such an amazing team.”

Staten Island, NY

Next up on the agenda is to help rebuild the family home of an elderly woman in Staten Island, NY. Hard hit by Superstorm Sandy back in 2012, this home has needed a new roof, bathroom, windows, and an entire heating system since the massive hurricane caused extensive damage to the building. Renewal by Andersen of New Jersey and New York Metro donated over $50,000 worth of windows and installation labor to help remedy the unhealthy living conditions, inoperable windows, and exorbitant heating bills the woman has been suffering with for years. The window materials and labor donation will make the home more energy efficient and enable Rebuilding Together to complete the other needed repairs. Without the donation, not only could the non-profit not afford the repairs, but the home would be impractical to heat even with a brand new heating system.

“It just breaks your heart to see someone living like this,” Landes says. “We just knew we had to help this lovely woman save her family home—and just in time for the holidays.”

The project will give this Staten Island homeowner something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. With winter’s cold fast approaching, she’ll finally be able to spend the holidays in a warm, toasty home without driving her heating bills through the roof.