About Us

Christmas in April*Cecil County is the largest home rehabilitation organization in America. Our mission is to build partnerships to rehabilitate homes and community facilities of low income, elderly and/or disabled homeowners so they can live in warmth, safety and independence.

We also bring together volunteers throughout Cecil County to rehabilitate homes. This neighbor-helping-neighbor effort culminates in our annual Workday, held on the last Saturday in April. Each year, Christmas in April*Cecil County facilitates the renovation of homes at no financial cost to the homeowner.

Christmas in April*Cecil County was started in 1994 and incorporated in 1997. To date, we have facilitated 230 projects. With the help of our many Sponsors and Volunteers, our mission is to continue to help our neighbors in need.

Our approach is simple: months of planning and preparation culminate in Christmas in April Workday – the last Saturday in April – when volunteers, both skilled and unskilled, in communities across America come together to repair and rehabilitate the houses of needy residents in their own communities.

Our goal is to leave each home SAFE, WARM, AND DRY. We hope to add a bit of joy and dignity to the lives of the homeowners.

Homeowners do not pay for any repairs. All materials are donated or paid for by either the Sponsor groups or Christmas In April. Able-bodied residents of the home are expected to help work. Friends and relatives are encouraged to volunteer as well.

Christmas In April receives donations from churches, businesses, corporations, organizations and individuals. All donations are tax deductible. Christmas In April is now happening in hundreds of cities and towns across America.

Christmas In April*Cecil County has been in operation since 1994. We have grown from 4 projects in 1994 to 230 to date.

Christmas In April*Cecil County has reached the far corners of the county. We have had projects in Rising Sun, Earleville, Chesapeake City, Elkton, North East, Conowingo, Port Deposit, Perryville, and Charlestown.

Our homeowners are our best asset. They come to us for all kinds of help and from all different backgrounds, but they all need a little help. Many of them are proud and find it hard to ask for help since they, often, were the ones to help others when they were younger. It is important that we all remember their pride and honor it.

Volunteers come from all backgrounds and with all skill levels. We have electricians and plumbers, carpenters and contractors, roofers and general handymen. We also have a large number of “unskilled” volunteers. These are the people who come for the day to do whatever needs to be done. They work wonderfully under direction of a skilled craftsman or do “grunt” work like loading trash on a truck. None of our jobs could be completed without lots of these unskilled workers.

And don’t forget the people who work all year long to make Christmas In April day happen. Our Board of Directors meets regularly to plan for the next year’s projects, raise funds, visit organizations to tell them about Christmas In April. We also work with the House Selection committee to preview and decide on the projects that can be done. Publicity and newsletters, fund raising activities, forms and reports to various organizations are all part of the job of the Board of Directors. The Board is 100% volunteer and we can always use new members to bring new ideas to our organization. We meet once a month for 2 hours, usually the third Thursday of the month. More time is needed closer to Workday, but all volunteers set their own schedule. Any time you can devote would be greatly appreciated.

To get more information, or to become more involved, please email us or telephone us at 443-907-5289.

Mark your calendars...

This year's workday is Saturday, April 24, 2010!