Commerce City - Brothers Redevelopment

There’s something special about volunteering for a cause in your own neighborhood that’s larger than yourself.

It gives you a sense of accomplishment, joy, and pride in that you’re working to make your community a better place. That’s how Commerce City employees felt when they volunteered for Brothers Redevelopment’s Paint-A-Thon Program — a service that utilizes volunteers to paint home exteriors for low-income and disabled senior homeowners.

“I think that we specifically feel proud, especially since we’re serving our community members and we’re helping out our neighbors,” said Commerce City Community Relations Liaison Daniela Villarreal, who volunteered for a Paint-A-Thon project in Commerce City this past weekend.

“But then also, I just think it’s awesome. I heard several volunteers reflecting toward the end of the event and seeing all the hard work we did and just how amazing the house looked,” she added. “I think it’s a huge accomplishment for myself and everybody there just to see everything at the end that we were able to do together.”

Commerce City employees, board, commission, and City Council members teamed up on Aug. 28 to paint the exterior of Lettie Miller’s Commerce City house. The city’s Quality Community Foundation — which provides grants to fund nonprofits that benefit Commerce City residents — sponsors the Paint-A-Thon.

Members of city council and boards & commissions recently volunteered their time to help paint a resident’s home as part of the CDBG-funded Paint-A-Thon program from @Bros_Redevelop.

Learn more at https://t.co/2smU0kExaU.

Video en Español: https://t.co/E4PzLKvLOB pic.twitter.com/z8MKibb4Sg

— Commerce City, CO (@CommerceCityCO) September 3, 2021

So far this year, Brothers has completed more than 75 Paint-A-Thon projects throughout the metro area and in Colorado Springs.

“I thank God every day that there are people like this who can help people like me who can’t do the job anymore. It wouldn’t get painted otherwise, I couldn’t do it,” said Miller. “The program they have is just amazing, absolutely amazing. It is a God send.”

Arthur Saiz’s decorated career in the United States Army included time providing communications support and training during the Korean War, Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm until he retired in 1993 after 36 years of service.

Saiz was stationed at Fort Douglas in Salt Lake City, Utah and at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in his hometown of Commerce City where he trained around 2,000 soldiers on infantry equipment and communications. Today, the award-winning Veteran enjoys paying homage to his Native American roots by creating and selling jewelry and art. But even though the 83-year-old lives independently, he admits he needs help.

“When I was young, I never depended on anybody. I did plumbing, electrical work, built my shed,” said Saiz. “I like to do a lot of stuff, but I get tired — even when I clean and do work around the house.”

Saiz survives off his military pension and has wanted to expand and update his bathroom for years but couldn’t afford to do so until he learned of Brothers Redevelopment and its Home Modification and Repair Program (HMR).

This past summer, Brothers saved Saiz nearly $8,000 by performing bathroom modifications in his house that will help him continue to live independently and stay in his home. Saiz received plumbing services, grab bars in his shower, an entire new bathroom floor, new wall tile, an ADA toilet, a new vanity countertop and sink combo and much more through HMR. Brothers’ Paint-A-Thon Program also painted Saiz’s house and provided yard work services through volunteers from ANB Bank.

The HMR Program has operated in Commerce City since 2019 and has provided 71 households with home modifications and repairs that are aimed at keeping people in their homes. Commerce City’s Quality Community Foundation, which provides grants to fund various nonprofits that benefit Commerce City residents, is also a sponsor for the 2021 Paint-A-Thon season.

“I’ve lived in this home for 24 years, and I didn’t want to leave and deal with a landlord,” said Saiz. “I felt real happy when Brothers did all this work for me.”

Commerce City volunteers for Paint-A-Thon Program

Award winning U.S. Army Veteran receives updated housing services from Brothers Redevelopment