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President Toni Preckwinkle, alongside First District Commissioner Tara Stamps and Maywood Mayor Nathaniel Booker, visited two homes in Maywood, a suburb of Chicago, that were refurbished by volunteers from Cook County in collaboration with Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago. This initiative aids elderly, disabled, and low-income residents, allowing them to remain safely in their homes. Cook County has participated in these efforts for 34 years.
This year's volunteers included members from the Departments of Capital Planning and Policy, Facilities Management, and Transportation and Highways. They worked on safety repairs such as installing grab bars, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and handrails, alongside other tasks like painting, fixing leaks, replacing cabinets, exterior stairs, and light fixtures.
Toni Preckwinkle, who serves as the honorary chair of Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, emphasized the dedication of Cook County employees to the cause. “Every year, our Cook County employees dedicate their personal time to this important mission,” said Preckwinkle. “They donate their skills and craftsmanship to give back to residents in Cook County who need it the most, and through their hard work and the generous donations of our partners, these families will be able to stay in their homes for years to come.”
Commissioner Tara Stamps lauded the volunteers’ teamwork after touring one of the homes under renovation. “It’s great to see the outpouring of support from County volunteers,” said Stamps. “I am proud to support efforts like this to give back to our community and help our senior residents thrive in their homes.”
Mayor Nathaniel Booker expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration with Rebuilding Together during the annual Village Pride, Village Wide Day in Maywood, which involved nearly 200 volunteers. “Rebuilding Together coming to the Village of Maywood to invest in updates for more than 30 homes during our annual Village Pride, Village Wide Day is a perfect match,” said Booker.
According to Wanda Ramirez, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, “Cook County’s continued investment in the communities we serve is truly making a lasting impact on the quality of life for its residents.” The county's Community Development Block Grant program provided $100,000, and the Department of Transportation and Highways offered an additional $26,000 in resources for this year's effort.
Skilled tradespeople from various unions, such as Laborers Local 1092, Electricians Local 134, Plumbers Local 130, Carpenters Local 1256, and the Painters District Council #14, supported the renovation projects alongside several partnering sponsors, including TRANE, Paul Borg Construction, and others.
For more information about Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago and its programs, contact Wanda Ramirez at (312) 201-1188 or visit rebuildingtogether-chi.com.
