SEAC’s 2024 Annual Appeal is Here!

SEAC had a fantastic fiscal year for 2023-2024! Your support and donations allowed us to strengthen and amplify our programs, most notably our Tool Shed. Now that the Tool Shed is 2 years old, we are moving forward to develop a mobile unit of the Tool Shed. The mobile unit will allow us to get tools into the hands of our residents and communities with transportation challenges. 

The image shows a flyer with a yellow background featuring a group photo of five people wearing blue shirts with a logo that says "SEAC" in yellow. Below the photo, there is a thank you message and a list of achievements since April 2022. The text reads: THANK YOU! Since April of 2022 we've: * Completed Loans: 7400 * Members: 700 from 4 counties and 44 zip codes (Counties: Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Wayne) * Number of Tools: Over 1180 * Money Saved: $400,000!! * Tool Waste Kept Out of Landfills: Estimated roughly 19 tons * DIY Classes: 50, nearly 200 attendees since we started! * Repair Crew Sessions: 6 (40 people served)

We insist that cost not be a barrier to people being able to repair, build, and maintain their homes, businesses, and community. Our members are neighborhood associations, renters, property managers, skilled tradespeople, homeowners, community organizations and agencies, community gardens, and even schools. 

DEI is critical to our mission, encompassing everything we do in our Four Pillars of Focus: Poverty, Neighborhoods/Communities, Children, and Local Businesses. We are super proud of what we’ve accomplished this year (read our Community Impact Summary here) and look forward to continuing our work in 2024-2025.

We need your help to get tools in the hands of neighbors all across greater Rochester. From Greece to Gonanda, people are coming to visit the South East Area Coalition (SEAC) Tool Shed in Rochester to borrow tools and learn how to use them with our free classes. Your donation to support our tool library helps people in our community like Brittany fix their homes and build new skills for the whole family:

The image shows a woman with long brown hair, wearing a black top and a necklace. She is holding a Dremel tool in her hand. The tool is a rotary tool with a small circular attachment at the end. She has sunglasses resting on top of her head and is smiling slightly at the camera.

When Brittany discovered the SEAC Tool Shed, she realized she didn’t have to wait for her husband to return from deployment to get their home improvement projects done. By taking free workshops and borrowing our tools, she not only remodeled her bathroom, she taught her children about confidence, self-empowerment, and community.

Your tax-deductible gift will have an immediate impact on residents like Brittany who can’t afford to purchase and store the tools they need to keep their homes in good condition. A donation of $25 would give someone like Brittany a 1 year Tool Shed membership A donation of $75 will fill the gas tank of our mobile tool shed van – bringing tools to neighborhoods throughout Rochester (coming soon!)


A donation of $250 buys equipment like an electric snowblower, allowing residents from all over Rochester to borrow it. Whether it’s yard upkeep, building playsets, fixing leaks, or learning new skills, your donation helps SEAC build a better Rochester. We appreciate you making sure your neighbors have the tools they need to succeed this holiday season. Please consider making a donation of $250, $75, or $25 today.

Support Our Annual Appeal Today


Thank you for your support and be well,

Mike Evans
Executive Director

TOOL SHED TESTIMONIALS

The image shows a group of people seated around a large rectangular wooden table in a room with beige walls and a window. There are seven people sitting at the table, and one person standing at the far end of the table, who appears to be giving a presentation. The standing person is gesturing with their hands, and there is a laptop in front of them on the table.

I can’t always afford to pay someone else to do it. For $25 for the whole year, I can keep borrowing different tools for all my renovations. That’s money I can use for bills and groceries instead. It’s more than just the tools- it’s all the help and community. I like taking the DIY classes. I love being able to do all the renovations myself and it shows my girls that anything is possible with the right
knowledge, tools, and attitude!” – Brittany Quercia, Tool Shed member

The image shows a "Before" and "After" comparison of a room renovation. In the "Before" picture, the room has a blue couch, a small wooden table, and a white armchair. The walls are a mix of light and dark colors, and there is a small window visible. The floor appears to be carpeted. In the "After" picture, the room has been transformed into a virtual golf club. The space now features a golf simulator setup with a net and a projector screen. The walls are painted dark, and there is a white armchair and a small plant in the corner. The flooring appears to be different, possibly a hard surface. The text alongside the images reads: "Before" and "After" with arrows pointing to the respective images.
After – 1

“I knew they would be instrumental in helping me remodel the rental space when I decided to open my own virtual golf club. The Tool Shed has been vital in helping me get my business ready as well as in promoting it through its programs to support small local businesses in the community.” – Chris Bellamy, owner of The Harmony Golf Club

The image shows a man with gray hair and a mustache, wearing a blue shirt, standing next to a sink mounted on a wooden frame. He appears to be demonstrating or explaining something about the sink. In the background, there is a wall with visible pipes and an electrical outlet. The setting seems to be a workshop environment.

“I really enjoy volunteering at SEAC’s Tool Shed. It makes so much more sense to share seldom used tools or tools that city dwellers might not have room for. I am really excited about the launching of the mobile unit next year so we can bring the tools to people where they live.” – Tom Benedett, Tool Shed volunteer

The image shows a group students and a teacher, posing together in a classroom setting. They are standing in front of a chalkboard and some shelves filled with various items. The chalkboard has a drawing of a smiley face and the word "FUN" written on it. The group consists of diverse individuals, some standing and some kneeling in front. They are smiling and appear to be in a cheerful mood. There is a Eclipse viewing tent behind them. The classroom has a typical school setting with educational materials and decorations visible. 

“Thank you for giving our students this practical building experience. The kids feel so good being noticed for positive things! Many of them are not involved in other activities at school and it’s so nice to see them excited and watch how the whole community came together for this.” – Ellen Post, Wilson High School Science teacher