More Than a Home Makeover: One Nashvillian’s Life-Changing Experience
A lifelong volunteer and support for her family, Anita Richardson struggled to keep up with home repairs — until she found unexpected help through Rebuilding Together Nashville. Read Anita's story and learn how YOU can help others like her. Warning: you'll likely fall more in love with the Nashville community! Image: Rebuilding Together Nashville
For 25 years, Anita Richardson has called her North Nashville house home — a place filled with love and the laughter of the children she’s raised. But as the years passed, the home she worked so hard to maintain fell into disrepair. On a fixed income, she struggled to keep up. That’s when Rebuilding Together Nashville stepped in, transforming not just her house but her hope, and reminding her that sometimes, help shows up right when you need it most.
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Rebuilding Together Nashville helps neighbors stay safe and stable in their homes by providing free critical repairs to those who need them most — from replacing floors and fixing roofs to installing accessibility updates. Thanks to dedicated volunteers and donors, the organization restores not just houses, but peace of mind for homeowners like Anita Richardson.
For Anita, that peace of mind means everything. She’s raising her great-niece and great-nephew — two children who came to her when they were babies. “My great nephew just turned 12, and my great niece is eight,” she says. “I’ve had them both all their lives. One came straight from the hospital to me, and the other one was a month old when I got him.”
Donate $50 to Rebuilding Together Nashville.
Asked about the challenges she faced before Rebuilding Together stepped in, Anita says, “Where do I begin? Being a single parent and on a fixed income, I was having a whole lot of problems, like some floor issues. I had not had any new windows since I bought it … I bought the house as-is, so there were a lot of issues … There were major things, but I couldn’t afford them right off,” she adds.
Anita’s granddaughter was the one who first discovered the program. “There was a man in her neighborhood who had some work done on his home, and they had a sign in the yard, so she asked the man about it,” she says.
And that conversation set into motion what Anita now considers a blessing beyond measure. “Rebuilding Together was like my angel. A God-given gift.”
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When the crew arrived, Anita could hardly contain her excitement. “I was elated to say the least!” she gushes. “When Mr. Kenny came in, he said, ‘We’re going to get started on your house.’ It was right after Labor Day, and they started in the kitchen; I guess because the kitchen was the oldest. I’d had some work done on the bathroom before, but never the kitchen. I got new cabinets and a new floor. And when he finished the cabinets and floors, I just thought I had a brand-new house. And now he’s working on the bathroom as we speak!”
The work didn’t just improve her living space; it gave her peace of mind. “I told him I did not want the old bathtub, because I’m getting older and stepping into the bathtub may become a challenge. So they’re putting in a walk-in shower.” Her voice brightens, and she tears up when she talks about how it feels to see her home being cared for.
Anita’s story is one of resilience and constant care for others. Born and raised in Nashville, she’s always been the person her family and community could rely on. “I’m the first of my mother’s kids (she has six) to buy a home,” says Anita. “My mother didn’t even buy a home, but I bought one just so she could have a place to live. God rest her. That’s pretty much how I decided I’d rather have a home than to be renting the rest of my life and have nothing to show for it.”
She built a career around children and education. “My background is in early childhood education; I even had a daycare here at my home for a while. I’m retired now, but I’ve always taken care of kids — even my brothers and sisters, because I’m the oldest.”
It’s a life that’s been full of giving, so when help finally came her way, it felt like the universe was returning the favor.
Despite her challenges, Anita radiates a sense of gratitude. “Don’t give up. Just stay with it, and it’ll pay off,” she says of the advice that’s guided her through tough years.
She laughs as she shares some of the simple joys that make her happy. “I can’t live without a car, and mine is on the blink. Game shows really work for me. I like trivia. And I like arts and crafts. I still like my Cricut and just being quiet and coloring.”
Now she has a home that’s better equipped for those peaceful moments.
For Anita, gratitude comes with a call to give back. “I used to be a volunteer myself. For years, I volunteered. I even worked with the Peace Corps,” she says. “Always give to others, because you never know who you’re truly blessing. These people have blessed me so richly; I still cry just thinking that someone was there when I really needed it most. Matter of fact, I’m tearing up now. So, always give back. Always give to someone else, because you never know how you’re affecting someone else’s livelihood.”
Donate $50 to Rebuilding Together Nashville.
For Anita, a safe, repaired home is more than a fresh floor or new windows — it’s a renewed sense of dignity and hope. Thanks to Rebuilding Together Nashville, she can focus on what matters most: raising the children she loves.
To learn more or make a donation, explore our newest partnership with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
Each month, we’re spotlighting a local nonprofit where even $50 can make a meaningful impact. By pooling our resources and saying ‘yes,’ we can create real change in the Nashville community — together.
Please help us spread the word by sharing this on Facebook or LinkedIn and encouraging your friends and network to give $50 to make Nashville better. In moments when the world feels polarized, supporting one another is how we keep Nashville strong!
Donate $50 to Rebuilding Together Nashville.
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Looking for more inspiring women in Nashville? See our complete archive of “FACES of Nashville” here.
Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.