Rebuilding Lives in Long Beach

With hammers and paintbrushes in hand, Charter Communications employees in Southern California joined together in the area’s first Charter our Community event. Their efforts made the future a bit brighter for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

About 35 Charter volunteers teamed up with the local affiliate of our national Rebuilding Together partner, Rebuilding Together Long Beach, to improve an emergency shelter run by Su Casa. Su Casa is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating domestic violence. Su Casa’s Southern California shelter can accommodate up to 25 people at a time, with the average stay ranging from 30 to 45 days. Residents can then be transferred to a transitional facility. The shelter typically serves 200 to 250 people in crisis annually.

Charter employees Van, Dennis and Terri turn a garage into a beautiful toy storage room

 

“We provide for all their needs,” said Vicki Doolittle, Su Casa executive director. “Food, clothing, toys for the kids – they don’t have to buy anything.” A combination of government grants and private donations helps to fund Su Casa’s efforts.

But when it comes to expensive building renovations, the Su Casa budget comes up short. “Not a lot of grants allow for facility upgrades,” Doolittle explained. “Those dollars are heavily restricted. We scramble to pay for it. We just don’t have it.”

That’s where volunteers – from programs like Charter our Community – fill the gaps, notes Daryl James, executive director of Rebuilding Together Long Beach.  “It’s the same amount of work [to rebuild] a single family home. But, instead of helping one homeowner, we are helping every single woman and child who comes here for years to come,” James said. “Having a national partner like Charter that is willing and able to mobilize boots on the ground is just fantastic.”

New flooring and fresh paint were just a few of the improvements Charter our Community volunteers made to the shelter.  They also constructed a shed for housing a washing machine and dryer and reconditioned a bathroom that had been unusable for years. In addition, volunteers assembled new bunk beds for the many children who will pass through the shelter’s doors.

Charter Communications employee Minesh prepares to remove old tiling

 

The event was personally rewarding for Charter employees. “I knew it was a great opportunity to go out and help people,” said Minesh Patel, a Charter business sales manager, as he put a fresh coat of paint on a picnic table in the Su Casa courtyard. “It’s good helping the community and getting to know people. I really love this.”

“For our first community event in L.A., I’m very pleased,” added Wally Bakare, vice president and general manager of Charter’s California operations. He said it was exciting to see technicians, dispatchers, managers and executives working side-by-side for such a worthy cause. “We had team members from every function of the business.”

Stephanie Gainous, a senior Human Resources generalist for Charter’s Long Beach office, served as the local coordinator for the Charter our Community event. “Employees here in the California region live and work in tight-knit communities,” she said. “It’s just in them to want to give back.”

 

Be sure to watch the Charter Local Edition video above about our event in Long Beach, featuring an interview with Rebuilding Together Long Beach Executive Director Daryl James.

At the end of the day, all participants signed the Charter our Community banner.

Charter Communications and Rebuilding Together volunteers pose for a group photo

Charter our Community volunteers get ready to start the project

Charter our Community volunteers get ready to start the project

(L-R) Charter Communications employees Ayanna and Samuel put the final touches on one of three kitchens at the shelter

A Rebuilding Together Long Beach staff member paints the back porch

Charter Communications employee Erick works on an extensive flooring project

Charter Communications employee Francisco painting a closet

(L-R) A Rebuilding Together Long Beach staff member and Charter Communications employee Alyssa repair shelves

Charter Communications emplyoee Sandra painting the main kitchen of the shelter

(L-R) Rebuilding Together Long Beach volunteer Jon teaches Charter our Communications employee Stephanie how to build an outdoor shed for a washer and dryer

Charter our Communications employee Samuel preps the doorway for a fresh coat of paint

Charter Communications employee Sinat protects the children’s play area from paint

(L to R) Charter Communications employees Sinat and Samuel and Rebuilding Together Long Beach volunteer Mandy paint the main kitchen of the shelter