ACCA works with Rebuilding Together Arlington/Fairfax/Falls Church (RT-AFF) to provide housing repairs and safety upgrades for seniors and other homeowners on fixed incomes and nonprofit organizations operating group homes. Since 1990, ACCA has repaired 134 houses and provided over 4300 volunteer hours. In 2025, ACCA sponsored the repair of two houses on April 26, National Rebuilding Day. The rainy weather did not dampen the volunteers’ enthusiasm. ACCA has also budgeted funds for RT-AFF’s Rebuilding Together Express program that provides less extensive safety and energy efficiency repairs by smaller teams.
We repaired a house in Annandale owned by a retired mechanic/ small business owner. Volunteers painted a large shed, replaced wall mortar on the foundation, replaced window trim, installed a new toilet, and completed other repairs. The repair team, led by Ken Mittelholtz with help from John Clarke and Dave Wright, included volunteers from St. Barnabas’ Episcopal and Annandale United Methodist churches. Marlene Dakita of Lincolnia United Methodist Women led lunch preparation.
The homeowner of the second ACCA repair project in Alexandria is a single mother who lives with her teenage daughter. She is a special education schoolteacher who is disabled and a living organ donor. ACCA volunteers built new handrails for two outside steps, repaired a storm door, repaired a closet shelf and rod, and completed kitchen and other repairs. The repair team was led by Brian Meli with help from Jim and Laurie Lewis and Paul Krumhaus, and included volunteers from Ravensworth Baptist, John Calvin Presbyterian, and Providence Presbyterian churches. Lunch was provided by Karen Barnoski of Queen of Apostles Catholic Women’s Group.
