• Rebuilding Together Houston has repaired the exteriors of more than 5,000 homes of needy people in Houston since 1985 – and BP volunteers have been responsible for 360 of those projects.
  

BP CREWS PLAN TO ADD six homes to that total on two Saturday Home Repair Days this April, and invites others to lend a hand with this heartwarming experience.

Think you lack the skills for home repair? Not a problem. Seasoned volunteers have taught many new hands in the past and will gladly teach many more this year.

Warren Winters, a BP senior drilling engineer who has volunteered with BP and Rebuilding Together Houston for 10 years, says, “I derive immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment from this work – and from joining with other willing volunteers who share that same enjoyment. We know that we are helping the homeowners and leaving them with a warmer, safer, drier structure.”

Photo gallery of BP’s 2009 crew

Personal satisfaction

“Seeing the smiles on the faces of the recipients when we finally complete their homes will continue to warm us for the six months between each house we do for RTH,” says BP Exploration’s Walt Palen and fellow RTH crew leader. “There’s personal satisfaction in knowing that we have improved someone’s living situation and showed them kindness.”

“For me, the most rewarding aspect of RTH is working together as a team to improve someone’s home,” says Jeff Hupp, a BP senior completion engineer and RTH crew leader.

“I find it personally satisfying to spend a little time, use my meager skills, and see it make a marked improvement to someone’s home, and in some cases, their lives,” says RTH volunteer Mickey Sutton, a BP project manager in the Gulf of Mexico. “Our efforts are always immensely appreciated by the homeowners – and, as a bonus, it’s fun.”

Camaraderie

Says Susan Hyatt, an RTH volunteer and a structural engineer for the Thunder Horse platform: “It’s a lot of work, but I enjoy the camaraderie and accomplishments. RTH is a great way to get some BP volunteer work in. I have participated in this for many years now.”

“We do this work to give back to the part of the community who are less fortunate,” says RTH volunteer Daryl Brister, who is a regional manager for Petrofac. “It’s a great team-builder to get everyone to work together. Learning new construction skills is a plus.”

RTH volunteer Michael McCrary, Logistics sector manager with Global Supply Chain Management, observes: “A day out with friends and colleagues, using skills that I don’t get much practice with, helping repair and improve the home of an elderly or infirm person – I couldn’t spend my time in a more productive and satisfying way.”

Photo gallery of BP’s 2009 crew

Spring: April 17 & 24; Fall: Oct. 16 & 23