Members of the all-volunteer Rebuilding Together Pacific County organization gathered at a member’s home to discuss the rewards of helping others. Back row, left to right, are Tom Jicha, Nick Michaud and Al Gunsul. In front are Jean Stauffer, Joe Hoover and Bobby Macias. Others not pictured but contributing considerable hours include Bill Bontems, Hank Voderberg and Donna and Tom Boyer.

Jean Stauffer is succinct.

“Our mission is homes — safety and comfort,” said Stauffer, vice president of Rebuilding Together Pacific County, “and to maintain the housing stock and keep the homes livable.”

The group makes free repairs for people who own their own homes but cannot afford to fix them; among common projects are wheelchair ramps. “It is like a ballet when they build a ramp, they do it so fast,” Stauffer laughed.

Volunteers have even repaired two doors damaged when fire crews have had to break in for a health emergency.

Helpers

Members have embarked on a call for donations as they gear up for leadership changes. Lynn Raymer is taking over as president from Magen Michaud in 2025 and long-time volunteer Joe Hoover, an experienced project manager, is moving to Waldport, Ore., to be closer to family.

Meantime, need is up and funds are low.

They have had 84 requests for help and completed more than 60 this year. Last year, the number was 50 to 60.

“There is going to be a greater need as the population gets older,” said Nick Michaud of Long Beach. “Donations are down. There are plenty of volunteers. We need project managers, people who can go out and approve the project, make the lumber list, and so on.”

Stauffer noted a need for administrative help, too. “We could use more board members and people to do social media and fundraising, people with expertise in these areas. I don’t think it would be more than 10 hours a month, and we have one meeting a month.”

True value

The Pacific County chapter, formed in 2007, is one of more than 100 similar groups nationwide.

It has a budget of about $40,000 a year, spent mainly on materials, supporting local businesses where possible. “If you look at the true value of the work, it is way more than that,” said volunteer Tom Jicha. Homeowners don’t pay anything and the labor is all volunteer.

Jicha retired and moved to the Peninsula a couple of years ago. He bought his house from former Rebuilding Together president Joe Cade and learned about the group.

“There is a lot of need here on the Peninsula. When I moved here, I didn’t realize that,” Jicha said. “It reminds me of parts of Appalachia. I have got time, I am healthy enough to help, and I am happy to do it.”

Pull Quote

‘There is a lot of need here on the Peninsula.’

Tom Jicha, volunteer

His story is echoed by Al Gunsul and Bobby Macias. Gunsul is Nick Michaud’s brother-in-law and worked with him in construction for 40 years. “People need help and many cannot afford it,” Gunsul said. “Our labor is free. It’s fun helping people that need stuff done.”

Macias, who moved to the Peninsula in 2020, has never forgotten the enjoyment of helping his brother build a mountain cabin when they were much younger. “It is rewarding,” he said. “I have always loved building.”

Learning

Hoover, who departs at the end of the year, has volunteered with the group since 2018. “It has been enjoyable. I have met a lot of really nice people, volunteers and the clients who we serve,” he said. He brought experience from a church mission program in Appalachia mentoring high school students fixing up homes.

Pull Quote

‘Our mission is homes — safety and comfort.’

Jean Stauffer, vice president, Rebuilding Together

“I have always been a D-I-Y guy, doing stuff around the house, but I have learned some new technical skills,” he added.

Group members applauded Hoover’s dedication. “He has put in more hours than anybody,” said Michaud.

“He has made a very strong contribution,” added Stauffer, who worked alongside Hoover on his first job. “He has been involved on almost all the jobs we do, and has sometimes done small jobs by himself.”

Hoover smiled. “Sometimes we see other things when we go out to do a job — other items that need fixing, although sometimes our resources limit us and we can’t always do them,” he said.

More Information about Rebuilding Together

Send donations to Rebuilding Together Pacific County, P.O. Box 283, Long Beach WA 98631. Email rtpacific283@gmail.com or call 360-244-0277 for information or to volunteer.  

Its website is rtpcwa.org. The group is also on Facebook at Rebuilding Together Pacific County Washington.

Donations may be made through the Pacific Community Foundation at www.spccf.org or on the website or Facebook. 

Requests for help go to the Olympic Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Information and Assistance center at 1715A Pacific Ave. N, Long Beach, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays or call 360-642-3624 extn. 2210. This office takes the information and forwards it to the Rebuilding Together Board of Directors for review.