REALTORS® Making a Difference Beyond the Transaction

SDAR Volunteers Help Restore Home and Hope for San Diego Family Through Rebuilding Together

More than 40 REALTOR® volunteers joined Rebuilding Together San Diego to help a Navy veteran's widow recover from 2024 flood damage.

The Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS® (SDAR) partnered with Rebuilding Together San Diego (RTSD) on Friday, Oct. 30, for a volunteer day dedicated to helping a local family in southeastern San Diego rebuild after flooding damaged their home.

SDAR served as both sponsor and volunteer partner for the project, which was organized by SDAR's Housing Opportunities Committee. About 40 SDAR volunteers spent the day painting the home's interior and shed, building and installing a raised vegetable garden, and creating a stone path from the gate to the front door.

"Every family deserves a place to call home, a place where children grow up making memories, families build generational wealth, and people feel a sense of stability and belonging," said Karen Van Ness, 2026 President of SDAR. "We're proud to join Rebuilding Together San Diego because when we invest in a family's home, we're also investing in the strength and future of our community."

A Family Working to Recover

The homeowner is a retired nurse who spent her career caring for others. She is also the widow of a U.S. Navy veteran and is raising two children while managing significant health challenges.

In 2024, storm drain blockages sent water from the hillside behind her property into her home, causing extensive damage. With limited resources, completing the repairs on her own was not possible.

SDAR's volunteer day was part of a larger RTSD renovation of the home. The full project includes new windows, flooring and doors, ceiling and fence repairs, kitchen improvements, rebuilt exterior steps and a retaining wall, and yard cleanup. RTSD has already renovated several other homes in the neighborhood affected by the same flooding.

REALTORS® Making a Difference Beyond the Transaction

The volunteer day also drew media attention. KUSI-TV featured the project, including comments from President Van Ness, during its Friday evening newscasts.

For REALTORS®, helping families find stable, safe housing is at the heart of the profession. The partnership with RTSD reflects SDAR's commitment to supporting the communities its members serve and bringing members together to make a practical, positive difference for San Diego families.

SDAR thanks every member who volunteered their time, along with the team at Rebuilding Together San Diego for their partnership.

Learn more about Rebuilding Together San Diego: https://www.rebuildingtogethersd.org/