FOUR ORGANIZATIONS. ONE FENCE. ZERO PROBLEMS.
For over five years, the fence at the Cherry Lane Youth Home’s Residence has been in a state of disrepair. After Youth Homes received funding for repairs inside the home, They had hoped there would be enough left over for some repairs outside. Unfortunately, with the recent rise in material costs, there just wasn’t any extra for sprucing up the outdoors. The new privacy fence was a perfect opportunity to build a partnership between Rebuilding Together & East Contra Costa’s premier foster services program.
“A good opportunity to give back, and it was nice working alongside the group from LBNL. It was a successful project and looked good at the end of the day. Plus the food was good too!”
Chris Warner, Volunteer
Youth Homes works with adolescents ages 12-25, with the average age of the residential client being 15. The Cherry Lane Residence is home to 4-6 youths, ages 13-17 that are struggling with unresolved trauma due to experience with or exposure to violence, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.
Since 1965, Youth Homes has empowered current and former foster youth, young adults with complex behavioral health challenges, and under-resourced children at risk of entering the foster care system in Contra Costa County. Their 7 unique impactful youth programs create opportunities for youth to process and heal from trauma, develop self-sufficiency and confidence, build supportive networks, and create healthy, safe, and meaningful lives. Approximately 250 youth and families are served each year by Youth Homes.
Over the last 2 weekends in August, the colossal privacy fence was constructed. The Boys Team Charity, Oaks League started the demolition. 8 team members and their families came together to do the hard work of removing the old 90’ fence. New post holes were dug and set for the prefab fence panels that would arrive the following weekend. Boys Team Charity works with 7th through 12th-grade boys and their families to provide community service in their local communities.
“We are grateful to our community heroes and our partners who freely give their time and energy to make our homes safe places for our youth”.
Danielle John, Youth Homes - Communtiy Engagement & Outreach Manager
With the posts installed, the second weekend of work was underway and led by a group of 11 volunteers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Approximately 200’ of 6’high redwood fencing was installed along the perimeter of the property. Jennifer Tang Director of Community Relations at LBNL states, “Berkeley Lab strives to be a good neighbor and engaged community institution, and volunteering with organizations like Rebuilding Together East Bay-North allows our employees to help strengthen the communities where we live and work. Volunteering is an investment in our community and the people who live in it!”
The majority of this project was underwritten by the generosity of The Dean & Margret Lesher Foundation and grants from AmeriCorp Senior RSVP, but there is still more to accomplish in this project. If you would like to ensure that worthy community organizations can have access to the infrastructure they need, please contribute to this project and future community projects, please make a donation to RTEBN.
“Berkeley Lab employees are driven by a commitment to public service, and the team enjoyed the opportunity to support two incredibly impactful community-based organizations: Rebuilding Together East Bay-North and Youth Homes. We hope that the small part we played in the larger project will help provide a safe and welcoming home environment for the youth who move in”
Jennifer Tang, LBNL
