New Milford, Conn. – Debbie Marquardt reached out to the Rural Development office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a complete transformation to her severely damaged home. Her house had a collapsing roof, a broken furnace, which necessitated heating by a small wood stove during the severe, sub-zero-temperature winter. This combined with the loss of her husband, a veteran, was a lot to handle on her own. She knew she needed help. In addition to getting the wheels of local government put into motion, Marquardt was advised to apply to a local branch of a charitable organization called Rebuilding Together Litchfield County.

Rebuilding Together partnered with Sears’ Heroes at Home program, which provides assistance and building materials to U.S. veterans’ families’ homes. Rebuilding Together volunteer Lorraine Kelley of New Milford served as one of the liaisons to help Marquardt. The support snowballed for Marquardt. FW Webb Company donated a $4,000 furnace. Nancy Rebehn of the Rural Development program helped Marquardt secure a one percent loan over 20 years to defray the repair costs. Rebehn works closely with Rebuilding Together. The project was also assisted by students from the South Kent School, a residential high school in South Kent. Over three weekends, Marquardt’s house received with a new roof, furnace and plumbing. The project was estimate was around $11,000, which includes donated supplies and equipment. 

“This is wonderfully amazing,” said State Rep. Cecilia Buck-Taylor, R-67. “You have got all these contractors and volunteers taking care of a resident who has been living without any heat.”

Tom Voytek, a project manager with Waterbury roofing company Heritage Systems, said, “Without skilled laborers, this never would have been possible. So we really need to give a shout-out to the plumber and to the building supplies companies.”

See full story by N.F. Ambery of the Register Citizen at http://www.registercitizen.com/general-news/20150425/rebuilding-together-helps-new-milford-widow-make-home-liveable-again