BARRINGTON, ILL (OCTOBER 23, 2017) – The Barrington Regional Hurricane Relief volunteer team will leave for Harris County, Texas on November 10 to help repair and rebuild hurricane-devastated homes in the Houston area. Although some donations have been received, additional dollars are needed now to purchase the necessary supplies for volunteers to make the repairs.

“We want to fix as many houses as possible to put families back in their homes,” said Tom Malia, co-chair of the effort. “We hope that Barrington area residents will take the lead from our five living former presidents who recently gathered together to encourage donations for victims of recent hurricanes.”

The need is great. Over 185,000 homes were estimated to be damaged or destroyed in the Houston area alone, leaving thousands of residents without a place to live or with a home so ravaged by water and wind that it is unlivable or unsafe. The Barrington Area Hurricane relief team will focus efforts on economically challenged areas where homeowners cannot afford to make the necessary repairs.

Barrington area volunteers will travel to Harris County to repair and rebuild from November 10 -19. An additional trip is being considered for spring of 2018, likely to coincide with District 220’s Spring Break.

Volunteer sign-up and charitable donations can be made online through The Build Team at www.BRHRelief.org, or checks can be mailed or hand-delivered to the following address:
The Build Team/Hurricane Relief
495 W. Northwest Highway
Barrington, Illinois, 60010

The Foglia Family Foundation will match the first $25,000 donated. All of the donations—100%—will go directly toward rebuilding efforts, with administrative and logistical costs covered through donations. Volunteers will pay their own way, with only their on-site food covered through the fund.

The Build Team, a 501(c)(3) organization, has agreed to receive, distribute and account for all charitable contributions to fund exclusively the costs of materials, equipment and other expenses necessary to fulfill the Barrington community’s mission to provide meaningful, hands-on support to hurricane victims.

The Build Team has been helping local homeowners in need with essential repairs to allow them to remain in their homes. John Dawson has experience helping recovery in many areas devastated by hurricanes and flooding, including repair trips to New Orleans, Joplin, Missouri, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. John will use his knowledge to help coordinate this community effort, especially on site.

The Build Team is just one of the many organizations and businesses in the Barrington area that have come forward to support the effort, both financially and with volunteers:
• Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
• Barrington 220 Educational Foundation
• Barrington 220 School District
• Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce
• Barrington Area Community Foundation
• Barrington Area Council of Governments
• Barrington Area Council On Aging
• Barrington Area Development Council
• Barrington Area Library
• Barrington Area Ministerial Association
• Barrington Area United Way/Youth Board
• Barrington Breakfast Rotary
• Barrington Children’s Charities
• Barrington High School
• Barrington Junior Women’s Club
• Barrington Lions Club
• Barrington Masonic Lodge
• Barrington Noon Rotary
• Barrington Park District
• Barrington Relay for Life
• Barrington Township
• Barrington’s White House
• Cuba Township
• Fox Point Homeowners Association
• Interact Club BHS
• JourneyCare
• Living60010
• Local Area Realtors
• Quintessential Barrington Magazine
• Roslyn Road “Earlyact”
• Samaritan Counseling Center
• The Build Team
• Village of Barrington
• Village of Barrington Hills
• Village of Lake Barrington
• Village of North Barrington
• Village of South Barrington
• Village of Tower Lakes

If you have any questions about how you can help this regional effort for hurricane victims, please contact Dawson Builders at 847-846-4463 or via email at Alana@dawsonbuilders.com. You can also contact Tom Malia at thosmalia3@msn.com or Bob Lee at photobylee@mac.com. The need is urgent. The time is now.

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