Continuing a collaborative effort that has been in existence for many years, RDA joined forces with several Rosedale-area businesses to make significant home improvements at eight different Rosedale homes last month, as part of the annual Christmas in October minor home repair program.

RDA congratulates and thanks the University of Kansas Hospital, the University of Kansas Medical Center, Strasser's Hardware, Westwood Apple Market, and the Racing Association of Kansas (TRAK) East, for making this year's Christmas in October a huge success.

The KU Hospital and KU Medical Center, which have teamed up with RDA on Rosedale 's version of Christmas in October for many years, provided the bulk of the volunteers for the project, as well as administrative and logistical support. Strasser's Hardware provided a sizable discount on paint, while Westwood Apple Market contributed lunches to the non-KU-affiliated volunteers. The Racing Association of Kansas (TRAK) East provided grant money to RDA for minor home repairs, which was tapped for this project.

Thank you to our many volunteers, who, due to a rainout on the originally-scheduled day for the program, stepped up and came back on subsequent weekends to finish their assigned tasks. Finally, another thank you to all of the house captains, who conducted preparatory assessments, gathered equipment and supplies, and supervised volunteers.

Christmas in October provides materials and volunteers to make needed home repairs and upgrades in older, urban core neighborhoods. Typical tasks include painting, weeding, trimming bushes and shrubs, fixing porches and steps, and more. Homeowners are usually elderly, disabled, or otherwise low-income and not able to undertake the repairs on their own. Thus, the program helps maintain and improve the housing stock and property values in the community, while simultaneously serving people in need.

To qualify, residents must own their own home and have their utilities turned on. In Rosedale , referrals for the program come from RDA staff, neighborhood groups, churches, U.G. codes officials, and the homeowners themselves. Representatives from RDA and the two KU entities evaluate each referral to determine eligibility.

For more information on Christmas in October, visit the organization's website: www.christmasinoctober.org.