Groups pitching in to build pavilion at homeless veterans center in East St. Louis
A new pavilion is being built at the Joseph Center in East St. Louis thanks to volunteers from Sgt. Charles A Fricke Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 805 in O’Fallon, St. Clair County Sunset Rotary Club, and Rebuilding Together SouthWest Illinois.
The pavilion is set to be constructed on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Benefiting the Eagle’s Nest, a not-for-profit helping male homeless veterans in the community, the Joseph Center, is a 26-bed, secure transitional housing facility that provides supportive housing to homeless veterans.
“This is the only center of its kind in Southern Illinois,” said Rebuilding Together SouthWest Illinois’s Executive Director, Savannah Rigley. “As an organization, we strive to ensure low income homeowners are safe, warm, and dry. Helping add this pavilion to the Joseph’s Center is a wonderful way for our volunteers to help the community as well.”
Along with the construction of the pavilion itself, plans for Saturday’s build includes repairs an updates to the center’s flag pole, koi pond, benches, picnic tables, entrance sign, basketball hoop, some of the building’s exterior, and landscaping.
“It will be a day full of hard work and community,” said Rigley, “especially while working alongside volunteers from three different groups. We are lucky to have some skilled volunteers lending their hands.”
These skilled volunteers include Gary Meckfessel, who runs a family farm, and is donating both his time and use of his equipment for the project. “We are always incredibly grateful for volunteers who are skilled in construction, such as anything from plumbing to landscaping,” said Rigley.
If you would like to donate your time, skills, or supplies to this or any other project, contact Savannah Rigley by email, info@rebuildswi.org, or phone, (618) 876-4578.
About Rebuilding Together Southwest Illinois
Rebuilding Together SouthWest Illinois is an organization where hundreds of volunteers and donors each year can feel the impact of helping their community. Volunteers work to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing home repair and renovation services free of charge to those in need. It strives to ensure low income homeowners are safe, warm, and dry. For more information, visit www.rebuildswi.org or contact Savannah Rigley by email, info@rebuildswi.org, or phone, (618) 876-4578.
