Regional Aid For Interim Needs held its 13th annual Hearts and Hammers Renovation Day on Saturday, June 6, making free repairs to two houses of worship and a senior center.
St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1722 Adam Street in Van Nest, George Powell Senior Center at 986 Tinton Avenue, and Christian Federation Ministries on 3065 Third Avenue received free rubbish removal and repairs including painting, tiling, and gardening.
Hearts & Hammers, which began in 1996, uses a handful of professional trades people, sponsors, and dedicated volunteers to repair community centers, houses of worship and private homes of low-income seniors who often are disabled or living solely on Social Security.
“We are excited to have new corporate sponsors [this year]: Ridgewood Savings Bank, Hudson Valley Bank, and Sanofi-adventis Pharmaceutical Company,” said Louis Vazquez, executive director of R.A.I.N.
Since its inception, with the support of sponsors, renovations have been made on approximately 109 sites that received over $282,000 worth of repairs.
Returning sponsors of Hearts and Hammers 2009 are Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Atlantic Development Group, Benjamin Moore, Bronx Lebanon Hospital, Bronx Lions Club, Bronx Community College, Bronx Young Democrats, Bronxnet, Community Board 5, Congressman Joseph Crowley, EMK Enterprises, Hispanic Federation, Home Depot, Hudson Valley, Jampol Hardware, J.P. Morgan Chase, Kirshner Brush Manufacture, McDonald’s Corporation, Metroplex Distributors, New York City Department for the Aging, New York City Department of Sanitation, Palante Electrical Corporation, Rosado Design, Verizon, and Westchester Square.
