Rebuilding Together and Lowe's Launch Kickoff to Rebuild in Moonachie

Annual Super Bowl event brings together more than 200 volunteers to revitalize local neighborhood devastated by Superstorm Sandy

MOONACHIE, N.J., Oct. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit organization, is teaming up with Lowe's and other sponsors to revitalize a Moonachie, N.J., neighborhood as part of Kickoff to Rebuild, an annual NFL-sanctioned event.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090421/REBUILDINGLOGO)

More than 200 volunteers from Lowe's and Rebuilding Together Bergen County will begin providing critical home repairs for 12 local low-income homeowners on October 18 and 19. Volunteers will also revitalize two community buildings and install a new playground with Carter's Kids as part of continued rebuilding efforts in communities affected by Superstorm Sandy. Volunteers will complete the renovations and unveil the playground during Super Bowl weekend in January 2014. 

Local homeowners, including seniors and families who have lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years, will receive significant home repairs to improve the safety and health of their homes following flooding from Hurricane Sandy. Many of the homes will receive new electrical work, plumbing, sheetrock, flooring as well as many other critical repairs.  

"Lowe's is focused on  continuing to work closely with our partners to deliver funding and volunteer support to the areas hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy," said Joan Higginbotham, Lowe's director of community relations. "In partnership with Rebuilding Together, we've been able to make a long-term impact by helping communities continue to rebuild and recover."

"Since Superstorm Sandy hit the Northeast in October 2012, Rebuilding Together's affiliates have completed work on more than 250 homes with the help of more than 3,100 volunteers," said Charley Shimanski, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "We are proud to continue that work by incorporating Sandy repairs into this year's Kickoff to Rebuild event in Bergen County and appreciate the support of Lowe's and its dedicated Heroes volunteers."

The American Red Cross has provided Sandy Recovery grant funding to Rebuilding Together to support critical repairs on these and other homes affected by the storm throughout New Jersey and New York.

Other supporters include CBRE, Bergen County VOAD, Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, Gorilla Glue, Brooklyn Triathlon, Champion System, and Race2Rebuild.

About Lowe's:

Lowe's supports the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. The company's signature education grant program, Lowe's Toolbox for Education^®, has donated more than $36 million to 8,000 K-12 public schools, benefiting more than 4 million schoolchildren. Lowe's Heroes employee volunteers support local community projects and our national nonprofit partners such as Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together and the American Red Cross. In 2012, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together contributed more than $30 million to support communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. To learn more, visit Lowes.com/SocialResponsibility.

About Rebuilding Together:

Rebuilding Together is a Safe and Healthy Housing organization that believes community starts at home. Our focus provides critical repairs, accessibility modifications and energy efficient upgrades to low-income homes and community centers at no cost to service recipients. Our impact extends beyond the individuals served to revitalize and stabilize vulnerable neighborhoods and communities across the country. Our 187 local affiliates completed 10,400 rebuild projects in 2012 thanks to the efforts of 100,000 volunteers from corporate partners, skilled trades professionals and everyday good citizens. Join us – visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

About Rebuilding Together Bergen County:

Rebuilding Together Bergen County has been serving the area for 15 years and provided assistance to some 350 homeowners in 45 towns. Our core home-repair work focuses on home safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility for seniors, the disabled, veterans, and families with children.  Since Hurricane Sandy, we have completely restored six homes (with 16 more under construction) and the Little Ferry Hook & Ladder and Hose Companies, and re-insulated 150 mobile homes. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogetherBergen.org. You can follow us on Twitter @RT_Bergen or like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogetherBergenCounty.

About Carter's Kids:

Carter's Kids is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and promoting awareness of fitness and self-esteem for America's youth. Founded in 2008 by TV host Carter Oosterhouse, the purpose of Carter's Kids is to increase the activity level of kids by building and developing community parks and playgrounds in their neighborhoods. These play spaces have been found to have a positive effect on the cognitive, social and physical development of the children who use them.

SOURCE Rebuilding Together