Habitat for Humanity building event in New London

By Robert Cloud

Habitat for Humanity will “Rock the Block” in New London Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 16-18.

The program plans to work on 33 projects, 20 of which are residential homes with the remainder being community-based projects, according to Habitat’s Marketing and Communications Director Eric Cernjar.

Community-based projects include Hatten, Franklin, Taft, Pfeiffer and River Trail parks.

Although Rock the Block will work throughout the city of New London, many of the projects will be in the Fifth Ward.

“We are covering a range of exterior repairs from roofs, porch replacements, windows, siding, to painting and cleanup,” Cernjar said. “One of our biggest projects during the event days will be a siding job.”

Rock the Block identifies neighborhoods, partners with residents, community supporters and municipalities, raises funds and recruits volunteers to spend three days working on home maintenance and repair.

Rock the Block helps make neighborhoods safer and more cohesive, enhances residents’ quality of life, improves homeownership rates, increases home equity, and raises the neighborhood’s tax base.

Since the program’s inception in 2015, Rock the Block has completed projects in 14 Fox Valley neighborhoods, including the city of Waupaca in 2020.

Volunteer opportunities

Volunteer crew members help with project work, which includes tasks such as landscaping, mulching, staining, painting, exterior home improvements, debris removal and more.

Volunteers are also needed to be part of the Site Support Host team. Responsibilities include arriving early to welcome and check-in volunteers, share project assignments, hand out T-shirts, direct flow of volunteers, help with beverage and food service and other duties based on needs. This is a non-construction role.

Youth ages 14-17 can volunteer for Rock the Block, but must be accompanied by an adult and have a parent sign their waiver. Youth can sign up online but must sign up with an adult who will volunteer with them the entire time. Youth volunteers must also bring their minor paperwork and waiver.

All volunteer sign-up will be done online through Volunteer Hub. Go to foxcitieshabitat.volunteerhub.com/lp/rocktheblock and follow the instructions to sign up, or create an account and then sign up for any available spots.

Rock the Block hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 16-17, and 7:45 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 18.
For more information, contact Jodie Tiede at 920-967-8904 or [email protected]