History of Rebuilding Together

In 1973, caring people in Midland, Texas led by an oil scout named Bobby Trimble saw that many of their low-and fixed-income neighbors lacked proper heating, safe electrical wiring, and water and decided to take action.

Taking their cue from the old idea of "barn-raising" they recruited volunteers to rehabilitate deteriorating homes in their community. The name "Christmas in April" was conferred in Midland when one of the early recipients likened the help to "Christmas in April."

News of the program grew and by 1988 there were 13 loosely affiliated Christmas in April operations across the United States, including one in Washington, DC. Patty Johnson, then Executive Director of the Washington, DC program, now President of Rebuilding Together with Christmas in April * USA, recalls an increasing deluge of calls from people across the nation who were interested in bringing the program to their own community.Today, 252 affiliates serve 955 cities and towns through the network of caring people.