Workers from Lowe’s and Rebuilding Together paint the backside of a Carson City home Oct. 5, 2022.
Photo by Scott Neuffer.
Carson City resident and U.S. Army veteran Bob Cranmer, now in his 80s, stood outside his Mountain Street home Wednesday with a large grin on his face as nearly 20 people worked around him.
“I asked for help, and these people jumped right in,” he said. “Everybody is tremendous. I couldn’t ask for a better group.”
Those people came from the Lowe’s down the street and from the local chapter of Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit that focuses on home revitalization for seniors, veterans, persons with disabilities, victims of natural disasters, and other families. The group was painting Cranmer’s siding a creamy blonde and the trim a dark brown. The colors popped as the group worked, united in the goal of finishing the job before noon.
“That community revitalization piece is what we focus on,” said Katie Pace, executive director of Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada. “It benefits the whole community. When a home is uplifted, it encourages others as well.”
Pace has overseen other projects in Carson and Reno, working with businesses and civic organizations that donate not only money, but time and labor. The Northern Nevada chapter of Rebuilding Together is relatively new, founded in 2020.
“The reception has been wonderful,” Pace said. “We’ve worked with Berkshire Hathaway, Charter, Wells Fargo, and Lowe’s.”
Andrea Richnow, assistant store manager of the Carson City Lowe’s, said fellow employees were eager to volunteer.
“People just jumped right on it,” she said. “Everybody is extremely excited to give back. I’m proud of them. They’re working well together.”
Cranmer explained that earlier this year, he started scraping the edge of his house himself, but his knees gave him problems. He lives at the residence alone and was thus heartened to discover Rebuilding Together. CertaPro Painters of Reno provided prep work for the project.
Homeowner Bob Cranmer and Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada Executive Director Katie Pace in front of Cranmer’s home Oct. 5.
“Hell, as if I’m not enough trouble as I am,” Cranmer joked. “I bought this house 11 years ago. It’s the last house I’m going to buy. I’m going to be here another 60 years!”
Cranmer served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1963, between the Korean and Vietnam wars.
“I was at the DMZ during peacetime,” he said. “They made me a sergeant when I was 18 years old, but I looked like I was 12.”
Cranmer said he’s colorblind, which presents challenges with paint selection. He gets a feel for colors by letting those around him describe them.
“I know that’s white,” he said, nodding to a post, “because I’ve been told it’s white.”
Cranmer also collects and refashions wood pallets. He showed the Appeal an American flag in his front yard he made from such a pallet. It complemented the bright colors being applied to his home.
“I made it about a year ago,” he said.
He then gestured to the workers busy around him: “Damn, they’re good.”
Those interested in donating, sponsoring a Northern Nevada project, or serving as a volunteer to repair a home can visit www.rebuildingtogethernnv.org, call 775-395-9808, or email rebuilder@rtnnv.org. Guidelines for service can also be found at www.rtnnv.org.
