DAYTON -- The University of Dayton football team again teamed up with Rebuilding Together Dayton volunteers on National Rebuilding Day 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 100 affiliates across the country, working to restore and revitalize America's underserved  communities.

This was the 14th year the Flyers have participated in the event.

"Thanks to some former Flyer football players serving on their board, our program has had a long-standing relationship with Rebuilding Dayton," Flyer coach Trevor Andrews stated.  "It is a big part of the Dayton football experience and our players look forward to being a part of it again each spring.  It's truly a win-win situation for the team and the Dayton community.  Our young men take pride in being able to help and I truly think we get just as much out of this experience as those who we are helping out."

The team joined more than 400 volunteers who come from local companies, churches and service organizations to help with projects all over the community.  

Volunteers from the football team primarily worked at two locations.  A group worked on homes on Miami Chapel Road and Edgemont Ave, trimming overgrown greenery, clearing out yards, and doing some house painting.  Other groups primed and painted Rebuilding Dayton's storage container which is located at the Dayton police department's Third District headquarters on Washington Street.  The team also assisted with yard work at several properties in the Edgemont and Carillon neighborhoods.  

"The timing for us is perfect," Andrews added. "This is the last time our team will be together as a group before the end of the semester.  Volunteering with Rebuilding Together Dayton this weekend gave our guys some perspective and a break in the routine before exams start this week.

"From a strictly football-related point of view, it allows us to continue to develop and strengthen team chemistry.  That's important, but this is so much more than that."

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.

The average demographic profile for individuals helped by Rebuilding Dayton is someone who is 77 years of age who has lived in their home for 29 years.

As a group, Dayton student-athletes contributed over 1,750 hours of community service work in the 2023-24 school year.