MUSCATINE, Iowa —What does it take to rebuild a county? For starters, how  about a hammer, a shovel and a willingness to work?

If you have one or all of those, organizers at Rebuilding Together Muscatine  County have a spot for you on Saturday, April 28.

That’s the day the local chapter of the National Rebuilding Together  organization plans to complete projects at four area houses and two non-profit  centers.

Since its founding in 2007,  by executive director  Frank Iliff,  the non-profit Rebuilding Muscatine County has helped more than 30 low-income  homeowners who needed repairs.

Rebuilding’s recipients include the disabled and elderly, at-risk families  with children, veterans and active military members.

To make the best use of time and resources, volunteers with all types of  talents and ideas are needed, said Deb Iliff, Frank’s wife, and volunteer  coordinator for the organization.

“Even if you can’t do electrical work, you can pick up a rake,” said Deb  Iliff. “And if you’re too young to use power tools, you can pick up trash.”

She added there is also a need for ambassadors. These are people who sit and  talk with the homeowners while the work is being done.

“One couple we worked with had lived in their home for 50 years and had spent  a lot of time alone,” said Deb Iliff. “Then they had all these people at their  house, and it was a big change. One of our volunteers spent the day with that  couple and kept them company.”

Volunteers will receive lunch and a T-shirt, and may even  learn some  new skills.

Some people put together a group from their workplace, said Iliff, or  families form teams, as do groups and organizations. Walk-in volunteers are  welcome the day of the event, but teams have a better chance of working together  at the same site when they sign up by Saturday, April 21, said Deb Iliff.

Applications are available at:

– Calvary Church, 501 W. Bypass Iowa Highway 61

– Muscatine County Extension Office, 1514 Isett Ave.

– The Muscatine Journal, 301 E. Third St.

– Rebuilding Together Muscatine County, 205 Cedar St.

– Shear Success, 109 Lake Park Blvd.

To learn more about volunteering, contact the Iliffs at RTMuscatine@hotmail.com  or call 563-260-3143.

Volunteers will meet at 7:15 a.m. on National Rebuilding Day at the  Rebuilding Together Muscatine County headquarters, 205 Cedar St.

Donations can also be mailed to the Rebuilding Together Muscatine  County  headquarters.

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Empire Today^® and Rebuilding Together Improving Homes & Lives
Empire Today is proud to be affiliated with Rebuilding Together, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize communities. Rebuilding Together provides extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need, at no cost. As a national sponsor, Empire Today is proud to assist Rebuilding Together and their mission of improving homes and lives of thousands of low-income homeowners.

Rebuilding Together provides free rehabilitation and critical repairs to the homes of low-income families serving in America’s largest cities and smallest towns. This is made possible through a network of more than 200 local chapters, the assistance of everyday volunteers, as well as the support of local business and major corporate partners. Rebuilding Together makes life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year.

As a leading provider of installed home improvements and home furnishings, Empire is confident that our efforts will make an impact on the lives of over 45 major metropolitan communities in which we service. The affiliation with Rebuilding Together is just one more way Empire is demonstrating its commitment to our employees, customers and the communities in which we service.

For more information about Rebuilding Together, visit www.rebuildingtogether.org