Rotary Club of Kirkland Downtown and Bellevue Sunrise Rotary volunteers were off to an early start this morning as they began work on two unrelated service projects in Kirkland.
In the South Rose Hill neighborhood, about 40 Kirkland Rotarians worked with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department volunteers to rebuild a playground at South Rose Hill Park as part of the worldwide “Rotary Service Above Self Day.”
Rotary member Vince Armfield, who is also a pastor at the First Baptist Church in Kirkland, said working on the community project “is a great way to serve my community.”
During the day, volunteers took out worn wooden playground equipment and replaced it with new slides, a climbing net and more. The South Rose Hill Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association had the opportunity to choose their own playground equipment from the city.
“Adults got to vote (on the equipment) too, but kids got more votes,” said Andy Held, Association vice president also volunteering at the park.
In another part of town, about 50 volunteers from Bellevue Sunrise Rotary and Woodinville-based Synergy Construction spent the day making over a low-income housing complex in Kirkland on Saturday, April 25.
Workers built a new wooden fence, repaired exterior siding and foundations, installed 10 energy-efficient toilets and replaced gutters for the Salisbury Court Apartments, which is owned by KITH (Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing). The complex currently houses 11 families, but has room for 12 families.
“We’re doing the same thing here that we’d do to our own homes,” said Bellevue Sunrise Rotary President Tom Fowler, who helped with landscaping.
He added the work “feels good from the standpoint that it has made a difference in people’s lives.”
Rebuilding Together Eastside (www.rebuildingtogethereastside.org), a national nonprofit organization that repairs and revitalizes low-income homes, awarded KITH the major renovation project as part of Rebuilding Days. Each year, Rebuilding Together donates materials and rallies volunteers to rehabilitate homes and nonprofit facilities. This year KITH was one of only two selected project sites.
The Salisbury Court Apartments were built in the late 60s and has not had any upgrades since KITH acquired the property in 1993, said Jan Dickerman, KITH executive director.
“It’s a nice feeling of doing a project together in these economic times when everyone has pulled back a little bit,” added Dickerman, who was also on site helping out during the day. “It’s heartwarming to see this generosity.”
Located in downtown Kirkland, KITH provides programs that house, feed and clothe individuals and families at risk of homelessness on the greater Eastside in Kirkland, Bellevue and Redmond. For information, visit www.kithcares.org or call 425-576-9531.
