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“Critical Repairs Caroline County (CRCC) is a non profit organization dedicated to helping primarily elderly and disabled Caroline County residents safely stay in their homes,” said Chris Soldano, who helps lead CRCC along with his wife, Carrie, “the goal is to help the residents safely stay in their homes by minimizing threats to their health.”
CRCC was modeled after the county’s chapter of Rebuilding Together, which was a national organization that lost momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. The volunteers decided to reform themselves as Critical Repairs Caroline County around 2021. But Soldano said the main objective to help neighbors in need remains intact, “We provide services such as installing relocateable aluminum ramps that allow residents to safely come and go from their homes… We also do minor repairs with volunteers to reduce costs and hire licensed contractors to do more difficult repairs such as window and door replacement, bathroom safety upgrades, minor plumbing repairs, and minor roof repairs.”
All of this is done at no cost, as long as the recipient qualifies under federal income guidelines, which leaves CRCC at the mercy of donations and grants. Luckily, they were one of the non-profits chosen by the Caroline Foundation to receive a portion of the one million dollars in grants they dispersed in 2025. “Grants such as the one from The Caroline Foundation are essential to our work,” Soldano said, “It could fund anything from relocateable ramps to bathroom safety improvements.”
“Our services improve safety,” Soldano added, “which in turn reduces hospitalization from falls or illness due to lack of medical attention… This is very important because in many cases the resident lives alone and cannot get out of the house.”
CRCC works closely with Choptank Health, Upper Shore Aging, The Lions Club, and other entities that assist elderly, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable neighbors. This year, they hope to find more volunteers to “keep CRCC functioning well into the future to help Caroline County residents.” Those who may be interested in donating their time or skills can contact CRCC at criticalrepairscc@gmail.com or 443-924-6068.
