Polyhouse defined: 28 students, 6 weeks of planning, 6 days of construction, $160,000 fund raising goal, a deserving family in the community all combined to produce a renovated home and a project management “learn-by-doing” experience.
This is the seventh year that Cal Poly’s Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Graduate students have performed a community service project. The course teaches project management through a large “home make-over.” As in past years we have chosen to work with a family who have had more than their share of hard times. Simon and Ruby have three wonderful children. Their son Caleb has achondroplasia dwarfism and hydrocephalus. He has endured more than 10 brain surgeries in his nine years of life. He has spent many months in the hospital and the medical bills are piling up. He is currently doing well, but his health is fragile.
We spent almost two hours at their home on the first Friday of the quarter interviewing and touring the house and yard. Ruby treated us to the most amazing oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies. We found lots of things we would like to help them with, but the top of our list is a Caleb-size bathroom. The extent of our work will be determined by two constraints: 1) the generosity of the community and 2) the six day construction period.
The work will all be done on May 14, 15 and 15, and May 21, 22, and 23, 2010.
I think I speak for most of us when I say we feel privileged to be able to bless this family in our community.
Here is a link to the website describing past PolyHouse projects.
Because Dr. Roya Javadpour is on sabbatical, Dr. Liz Schlemer is coordinating the activities from the faculty side this year.
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PolyHouse 2010 blog 
When will you be renovating the house?
Good question….I just added the work weekend days above…May 14, 15 and 16 and May 21, 22, and 23.
If you can help, go to the Donate tab and sign up!!!!
I’d like to assign a photographer to cover construction in progress. Could someone contact us with a couple of specific dates and ideal times so we can try and slot a time into our schedule.
Thanks
David Middlecamp
The Tribune
dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
David,
Thanks so much. I have delegated this to a couple students. They should contact you soon.
Liz Schlemer
I’d like to help out on the renovation days between the 15th and the 16th. Where and at what times will this be taking place?
The best way to get connected is to sign up to volunteer. You can do this by going to the “donate” tab and click the volunteer link.
Thanks for your offer to help.
I have helped for the last 4 years and I am wondering does the electrical team need help planning this year? Where is the house this year? I will be there again with out a doubt
Thanks for your offer of help. I will have a students involved in electrical contact you.
Can the public nominate a house for the project? I have a 97 year old neighbor (as sharp as a tac) who has expressed an interest…especially since the last Santa Margarita Polyhouse. Who do i contact? Thank you!
We go through a pretty extensive search for appropriate homes and families. This will begin for next year in March of 2011. I would recommend sending an email to me (lschleme@calpoly.edu) or Dr. Roya Javadpour (rjavadou@calpoly.edu) early next year.
Hi Liz,
Can’t make it until the weekend of may 21-22-23 to video tape. Looking forward. Many thanks for letting me get involved.
I’ll be there to document on video- May 21-22-23. Thanks!
[…] For more information visit: https://polyhouse.wordpress.com/about-the-project-and-family/ […]
You could not have picked a more deserving family. I have known Ruby since our time at Cal Poly together almost 12 years ago. I have seen what Caleb has gone through as well as the family. Thank you PolyHouse for making her dreams come true.