Volunteers Needed to Help Build Portable Desks on Saturday, September 26, 2020!

DreamBuilders-Portable-Desk-Thumbnail-Photo

Volunteers are needed to help build more portable desks for students in need.

Join the DreamBuilders team as we work together to build desks and enable students to have a dedicated workspace during this time of Covid-19 and virtual learning!

The need is great, so register today to volunteer on Saturday, September 26, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This volunteer event will occur at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 12701 Hall Shop Road, Highland, MD.

REGISTER TODAY AT: https://dreambuildersmd.org/volunteer-registration/

For more information about the Portable Desk Project, follow this link: https://dreambuildersmd.org/dreamdesks/

Sign up for “Desks for Kids” Work Days: August 1st or 8th

Wood Burning Mark for Folding Desk Production

Help build at least 120 folding desks for local students in need, for the upcoming virtual school semester. When you sign up, we explain the workstations and ask about your skill level. Some manufacturing tasks require special skills, such as precision cutting with a chop saw or attention to detail in assembling components of the desk.

Most workstations involve a team of two or three individuals. Due to social distancing challenges, we ask people who are immediate family members or close friends to volunteer for the multi-person teams. Please commit to working the full day, from 8:30am until 4pm. This way, we don’t have to re-train volunteers mid-day.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST WEAR MASKS in the parking lot at St. Mark’s Church in Highland. DreamBuilders will take additional precautionary measures to minimize potential exposure to the CORONAVIRUS.

We’ll host a Zoom meeting on Friday evening before each workday to review team assignments, tasks, health, safety, and Q+A. Casey’s Crab Company will provide lunch. For more info: Doug at silversteinleung@yahoo.com

Update 7/28/2020: All volunteer openings have been filled for this workday. However, we fully expect that demand for these desks will be high, so look for announcements of additional production days!

32 volunteers needed Saturday, August 1 – (Raindate: Aug 8)
14 volunteers needed Saturday, August 8 – (Raindate: Aug 15)

Folding Desk Project-Save the Date: August 1st

DreamBuilders Folding Desk Prototype, designed and built by Jeff Kassman

DreamBuilders’ first work day for our new project is planned for Saturday, August 1st, 2020 from 8:30-4pm at St. Marks Church in Highland. We will arrange a variety of physically distanced work stations to build and assemble more than 100 desks for low-income families in need of our help. The finished product will be distributed to students for an improved learning environment while at home during the pandemic. Check back soon for additional details along with an online sign up for volunteers.

DreamBuilders 2020: Building for Those in Need

DreamBuilders plans to build folding desks and school supply organizer kits for home use for children in need. Our change in focus is the result of adjusted conditions during the COVID pandemic. We will ensure appropriate physical distancing for our volunteers’ safety during our local work days this summer and fall.

The project utilizes our building and technical skills to address a community need. We intend to provide these items to improve the study environment for elementary and high school students, particularly for those learning remotely from bedrooms. An organized learning environment not only affects concentration and productivity–it also promotes physical, emotional and social well-being.

We seek teen and adult involvement in planning, design, building, and distribution. If you want to help, or have questions, email Doug at silversteinleung@yahoo.com

DreamBuilders is Mobilizing! Young Adults and Teens: Join our Virtual “Town Hall” June 22

DreamBuilders banner
Serving those in need Since 2002

Sign up for the Virtual Town Hall here

Please join us for a virtual meeting Monday, June 22, 2020 at 7PM. We need your ideas on how DreamBuilders can best serve those in need during this challenging time. Please spread the word and let’s show the community what DreamBuilders can accomplish! Adults are welcome too, but we will be soliciting ideas from the youth first. 

Sadly, the Coronavirus pandemic caused DreamBuilders to cancel our mission trips and local building projects this year. It’s not possible to undertake our significant construction projects while ensuring the safety of our volunteers. Social distancing isn’t feasible on construction sites. Rest assured, we will resume our mission of building homes for those in need as soon as it is safe to do so.

In the meantime, the leadership team is ready to apply our organization skills, significant volunteer base and our financial resources to help during this crisis. We have some ideas on how we can support the local communities with food drives, etc. and we want your input about other ways DreamBuilders can make a difference!

Please note: Participants must sign up in advance. You’ll receive an email with the Zoom link and password within 48 hours. Sign up closes at 3pm on June 22.

Postponed: 2020 Spaghetti Dinner Volunteers Needed

POSTPONED due to restrictions on large events. We plan to hold the event later this year, and will share details as they become available. 3/18/2020

Service with a smile!

Help DreamBuilders’ most important annual fundraiser! Teens and adults going on mission trips this summer are encouraged to work a shift at the spaghetti dinner. We have a variety jobs available during two shifts, from 4:45-6pm and from 6-7:30pm. Click Spaghetti Dinner Work Schedule to sign up. Thanks in advance for making this night a success!

CANCELLED: Announcing…our 2020 Summer Mission Trips

CANCELLED due to Covid-19. Please stay safe, everyone! 4/03/2020

DreamBuilders helped repair severely damaged two homes in Puerto Rico in 2019. Above: Clarissa’s home in mid-construction, two years after the deadly storm..

Category 5 Hurricanes Maria and Michael caused death and destruction in Puerto Rico (2017) and Panama City, FL (2018) . You can help families return home by joining one of our mission trips. Much work is needed to fully restore communities devastated by these natural disasters. Priority registration is now open for members of DreamBuilders’ parishes or congregations. Registration for other volunteers begins 3/8/2020. Mission trips offer hands-on construction opportunities and fellowship. Teens must have completed 9th grade to go on a mission trip. For more details and registration: Puerto Rico and Panama City, FL

Lending a hand to ARC

Our Fall ARC project crew gets the job done. Photo Credit: Jan D.

We accomplished our goals in a single day: repairs to a group home in Ellicott City–with our ARC partners, in early October. Tasks included demolishing old kitchen cabinets, removing a load-bearing wall and another wall, and installing new cabinets. Thanks to Brian Rezac, Jay Raksin, and the ARC team for guiding us through the day!

Join DreamBuilders at the Mistletoe Mart, November 7-9

Enjoy crafts, food, door prizes, baked goods, and the Angel Room for kids under eight

Continue Joyce Chomko’s legacy and raise awareness of DreamBuilders’ mission by volunteering to sell fair trade coffees and teas at Mistletoe Mart in Carroll County. Hosted by Church of the Ascension (a DreamBuilders parish), this juried event brings together a variety of affordable, made-in-America, useful and unique gift items created by artisans of the Mid-Atlantic region.

Sign up to sell DreamBuilders fair trade coffee and tea

We’ll have a tribute to Joyce on the DreamBuilders’ bulletin board behind our table. Come buy coffees and teas to support DreamBuilders, and start your holiday season with us!

For Mistletoe Mart ticket information, vendors, directions, and more