Rebuilding Together’s Springfield affiliate is planning a citywide natural disaster rebuilding event on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 to commemorate the first anniversary of the devastating June 1, 2011 tornado by repairing homes still damaged by the event. Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray will join members of Rebuilding Together, volunteers and sponsors at the kickoff breakfast and press conference at Berkshire Bank, 1259 East Columbus Avenue at 8 a.m.

Last year over 1,600 homes in the area sustained damage from natural disasters in June, July and October. In October of 2011 Rebuilding Together completed 25 Homes in 5 Days with 1,000 Volunteers to rebuild homes in the wake of the June tornadoes. Many homeowners, especially those that are low-income, with either no insurance or inadequate insurance, are still in need of help.

Projects range from the wall-raising of a destroyed garage, removal of fallen trees and stumps, painting full exteriors, repairing roofs, weatherization, replacing windows and doors with new energy efficient ones, electrical & plumbing upgrades, to yard cleanups, planting trees, shrubs and flowers and debris removal.

Rebuilding Together is seeking volunteers and materials donations for the citywide rebuilding effort. Those interested can contact Rebuilding Together at (413) 788-0014 or at www.RebuildingTogetherSpringfield.org.

Sponsors to date include Berkshire Bank, AARP Massachusetts, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Sears-Heroes at Home, TD Bank, Springfield Area Sustainable Energy Association, Verizon Wireless, Triple S Construction/Home Builders Association of Western Massachusetts and Derosier Tree Company.

Rebuilding Together Springfield is in its 20th year of existence and recently completed the rebuilding of 15 homes in Springfield on April 28, National Rebuilding Day, with the help of approximately 1,000 volunteers.