DAYTON -- The University of Dayton football team will team up with Rebuilding Together Dayton volunteers on Saturday to provide free repairs to homeowners in neighborhoods throughout Dayton.  The local group is part of the national Rebuilding Together organization that has more than 200 affiliates across the country, working to restore and revitalize America's low-income houses and communities.

This is the seventh year the Flyers have participated in the event.

"Volunteering with Rebuilding Together Dayton gives us an opportunity to give back to the community for the many years they have supported the Flyer football program," said Rick Chamberlin, UD's head football coach.  "We're proud to say this is the seventh year we have participated.  For us the timing is perfect.  It's always the last Saturday in April, which gives us one more chance to be together as a team before exams start the next week."

The team will join more than 1,000 volunteers who come from local companies, churches and service organizations to help with projects all over the community. 

"I'm proud that our program is able to be involved in something that benefits the Dayton community," Chamberlin added, "but our young men get something good out of this day as well.  Any team's success is built a lot on chemistry.  The Rebuilding Together Dayton Day allows us to strengthen our team chemistry which will help in our quest for another Pioneer Football League championship.

Rebuilding Together assists elderly or disabled homeowners who are not able or cannot afford to make home repairs, but want to stay in their own home where they are most comfortable.  The goal of Rebuilding Day every April is to harness the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors to keep people living in safety and independence.  The homeowners are selected from nominations by neighborhood groups, churches, city housing inspectors, priority boards and individuals.

This year's event is targeting approximately 15 to 20 homes and multiple community areas.

 As a group, Dayton student-athletes contributed over 2,000 hours of community service work in the 2016-17 school year.