Volunteers Help Rebuild Widow's East Palo Alto Home

From Wells Fargo: More than 30 Wells Fargo team members worked more than 150 hours to make repairs to the home of 85 year old widow of a veteran Margarita Pereles on April 29. Wells Fargo donated $30,000 to Rebuilding Together Peninsula as part of National Rebuilding Day.

Wells Fargo team members joined other volunteers in applying new stucco, painting the exterior of the house, replacing vent screens, fixing electrical wiring in the garage, servicing the furnace, cleaning the backyard, removing tree stumps, replacing the kitchen sink, adding new GFCI’s, building a storage platform, fixing the damaged wood floor in the living room, adding a new toilet, fixing the leaking bath tub and re-grouting the bathroom floor.

"Safety is a big issue for my family, and with the repairs I know that we will be safe. Words cannot express how I feel, but thank you," said Pereles. This effort is a part of a larger initiative to increase affordable housing through volunteerism and grants to housing organizations. Wells Fargo donated $178,000 in 2017 across the Greater Bay Area region to organizations that build homes for deserving families.

This year, Wells Fargo celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the Team Member Volunteer Program (TMVP). The program was created to invest in neighborhood revitalization efforts and build stronger communities through volunteerism and financial support to nonprofit organizations that help low-and moderate-income households, including those for seniors, veterans, and under-served families.

“While the affordable housing crisis continues to strain all corners of the Bay Area, our programs are offering hope for those who are in danger of becoming just another troubling news report by preserving what is left of a dwindling affordable housing stock,” said David Cattivera, Executive Director at Rebuilding Together Peninsula.

“Wells Fargo is committed to rebuilding and increasing affordable housing in areas where our customers and team members live and work. These repairs will go a long way in making Margarita’s home safer and more comfortable,” said Christina Pels-Martinez, SVP and area president for the Peninsula market.

Images Courtesy of Wells Fargo