Since 1978, Brothers Redevelopment Inc. has been assisting disabled or elderly homeowners with sprucing up their homes with a fresh coat of exterior paint.
Brothers' list of community volunteerism, outreach and wealth building is a lot longer than painting homes for community members but more on that later.
Painting the exterior of a home can cost upwards of $5,000 and DIYing requires a certain level of skill and strength.
Brothers saw a need in the community and pounced on the chance to help their neighbors. They stepped in and set a goal to paint at least 100 homes in need every year.
That goal became the Brothers Paint-A-Thon project. For the past 45 years, Brothers, with the help of local volunteers and a partnership with Denver Employees Volunteer Opportunities (DEVO), have painted more than 7,500 homes. DEVO and Brothers formed that partnership 20 years ago. Since then the pair has selected one day to go all out and paint as many houses as possible.
This year that day will be August 12.
On Monday, City Council proclaimed August 12th as Brothers Redevelopment, Inc. Paint-a-Thon Day in the City and County of Denver.
"It's a highlight for us. This work does matter and they're saying this work matters so it's an honor to have them see that and acknowledge that," said Chad Nibbelink, the Paint-A-Thon Volunteer Program Director. "We genuinely don't do this because we have self ambition. We do it because we love our community. We love the people in our neighborhoods."
Nibbelink said the idea for the Paint-A-Thon stemmed from Brothers overall mission to be "a good neighbor." That was the goal when the housing nonprofit opened their tool boxes in 1971 and set out to assist locals with their home maintenance and repair needs.
Since then, Brothers has become a staple in the Denver area, assisting residents with home modifications, housing counseling and homebuyer workshops along with rent and mortgage assistance and partnering on low-income housing developments.
The partnerships and projects go on and on.
"Thanks to Brothers for your entire footprint around the city," Council President Jamie Torres said Monday night. "I got my first time homeowner training through you all which qualified me for my first home in 2007."
Council President Pro Tem Amanda Sandoval echoed a similar sentiment. She sponsored the proclamation and mentioned that Brothers assisted her uncle with painting his home. Sandoval said she appreciated how Brothers helps homeowners maintain their dignity, especially situations that require them to ask for help.
"Thank you for the work you do. It matters for those people who are on fixed income and who are too proud to ask for help but want to live in a beautiful home that their neighbors don't think is in disrepair," Sandoval said.
Nibbelink said the Paint-A-Thon program runs from March until October, basically when the weather is nice enough to paint outside. Folks can apply or be nominated online. To qualify, homeowners must be 60 years or older or have a disability. They must own and live in a home in the Denver Metro or Colorado Springs area and intend to live in the home for at least 12 months. The home must also be no taller than one and a half stories high.
On Saturday, Nibbelink said Brothers, DEVO and volunteers will paint about 10 homes, if the weather is on their side. That would bring their total to 92 homes this year. By the end of the season, the project will have painted 110 homes.
Nibbelink added that the volunteer work lasts all season as the volunteers and Brothers meet with the homeowners and get to know their needs. Nibbelink said it's all about forming a relationship with the homeowners because ultimately no one wants strangers in their homes but really no one wants to feel like they're being given a hand out.
"Dignity is at the center of our program," Nibbelink said. "Our big philosophy is that we're not coming in and saving the day. We're not helping anybody out of anything. We're literally being good neighbors and that requires us to walk alongside our homeowners and to have dignity be 360 degrees around on every single one of our projects... We're all in it shoulder to shoulder and we're all in it for the common good."
