‘It’s a miracle every time’

By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor

For anyone who knew the Clarke family, it should come as no surprise that Tim Clarke became involved with Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities after he and his wife moved to Lake Arrowhead full time.

Clarke shared his story with members of the Crestline-Lake Gregory Rotary Club at their Sept. 19 meeting.

He grew up, Clarke said, in a West Los Angeles neighborhood “where everyone helped each other – building fences, laying down patios.” They would hold pancake breakfasts, rummage sales, bake sales to raise the money needed for the projects. The local churches helped.

Young Clarke saw his parents volunteering. “My brother and I learned to respect others,” he said.

The whole family was very active in the local YMCA. His mother directed the first girls’ camp. He and his brother first went to camp, then became counselors.

“We saw the service our father gave – giving up a week’s vacation to be at the camp. I was taught to serve others,” Clarke said.

In 2009 he bought a house in Deer Lodge Park with an eye to retirement. He rebuilt and remodeled that house.

Then, in 2016, “I found the holy grail – a house in Lake Arrowhead with a two-car garage!” In 2017 he retired and moved to the mountain full time.

“We never knew our neighbors in Orange County,” Clarke said. “We wanted to change that.” So, he and his wife decided to reach out to their immediate neighbors, visiting them with plates of homemade chocolate chip cookies.

“We called on the first three and were warmly received,” he said. “We had some nice chats.” Then they knocked on the door of the fourth house.

Who did they meet but Sue and Darrell Parks, 24-year veterans of Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities. “The sales pitch began to get me to join the Rebuilding board,” Clarke said. “I had found a cause.”

He took on the job of writing press releases for the local papers. Then he volunteered to be part of the selection committee for Rebuilding Day, which takes place on the last Saturday of April.

“That was my first real contact with those seeking our help,” Clarke said. “I began to meet residents and see how they were living. My heart went out to them.” Many were widows, living on fixed incomes that were satisfactory 20 years ago. Most were tidy homes that were a little worn.

“I went home and told my wife how lucky we were with what we had,” Clarke said.

That first Rebuilding Day he was involved with six homes were chosen. Six contractors and groups of volunteers descended on the homes. “The homeowners looked a little worried at first,” Clarke said. “Most had many more things fixed than they had asked for.” The contractor would see a switch that wasn’t working and replace it. If there were no smoke detectors, they installed them. If a lock wasn’t working right, they would fix it.

“A little weight was lifted off these people,” Clarke said. “They had no money to fix these things but all the time in the world to worry about them. At the end of the day, there is a glow of satisfaction at all the kindness.”

Clarke said that, when he started on the board, he was surprised at how small the budget is and how much is done with it. Soon money started to roll in from corporations, banks, fraternal organizations. “We were like the prom queen at the kissing booth,” Clarke said. “Our budget and bank account soared.”

And then came Covid and Snowmageddon. “The needs were great and we couldn’t say no,” he said. “We kept hoping the money would flow again so we kept spending.”

Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities is currently in dire straits. “We have to raise $50,000 to $60,000 to replenish the programs we have offered in the past and establish a safety net for the future,” Clarke said.

“We must not let this program die. It can’t just be another mountain memory. It means too much to too many people who are able to stay warm and dry in their own homes.”

A third of their budget, he noted, has been from small donations from the community. “We really appreciate those small donations,” he said. 

They are currently taking applications for Rebuilding Day 2025; the deadline is Oct. 31. Clarke hopes they are able to work on four or five homes. In order to be eligible, the applicant must have owned their home for at least two years and live there full time. They must meet the county’s definition of low income: $35,900 for one person; $41,000, two people; $46,100, three people; $51,250, four people. On the application they list their home repair requests.

“It’s a miracle every time,” Clarke said. “There aren’t words to describe what happens on Rebuilding Day unless you’ve been doing it. It’s amazing the teamwork that develops automatically.”

To sign up as a volunteer or to make a donation, visit www.rtmc.build.