Eighteen inches of rain fell in Southeastern Minnesota in August 2007—so much rain that the levies in the small town of Rushford couldn’t hold it back. Water poured into the streets, flooding homes and devastating the town’s business district.
Dave Berdan, president of J Berd Mechanical in St. Cloud, Minn., a member of Associated Builders and Contractors’ (ABC) Minnesota Chapter, heard about the flood and wanted to help. He contacted Kevin O’Laughlin, a resident of Rushford, and traveled with several of his employees to help rebuild the town.
O’Laughlin, who witnessed the destruction firsthand, later contacted ABC’s Minnesota Chapter for even more help.
One of the first people to respond to O’Laughlin’s request for aid was Jeff Greischar, owner of Tech Builders, Inc. Previously, Greischar helped rebuild homes in some of the most damaged areas of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
"The bug was planted in our ears that with all of the talents of our members representing all of the trades, we could take over someone’s house and completely rebuild it," Greischar says.
Andrea and David Brand, residents of Rushford, were living in a FEMA trailer with their two children, age 11 months and two years, when ABC chose a house to repair. The Brands spent four months trying to rebuild on their own, but resources and optimism quickly dwindled. In December 2007, the Brand’s learned that their two-story, three bedroom house would be refurbished by ABC’s Minnesota Chapter.
"Andrea and David couldn’t believe that we were going to come in and take it over for them," Greischar says. "They had tried to do it themselves and ran out of money to get it moving along."
Work began on the Brand house in January 2008 with the temperature dropping to 30 degrees below zero on the first day. Despite the frigid weather, more than 100 volunteers from 20 ABC member companies worked for the next three months to rebuild the interior of the Brand's house—most commuting two to three hours after work and on weekends.
ABC members weren’t the only ones pitching in; the Brands showed up to help whenever they could.
"It was nice working with the family," Greischar says. "It was great to have them there and active and to meet their extended families who came out to help with the project."
Work wrapped up in April 2008 and the Brands are now living in their new home.
"Throughout this project, David and I have been so blessed to have people who truly care and want to make a difference. It means the world to us," Andrea Brand says. "We are home and so very happy!"