Hot enough for ya? As you know, July was a very warm month. However, this heat, oppressive at times, was not enough to keep the Habitat for Humanity of Springfield team from carrying on and supporting the mission.
In mid July, we announced Woodland Heights Neighborhood as our targeted area for Habitat for Humanity’s new program, Neighborhood Revitalization or, NR. Through NR, we will serve more families by working in a specific area alongside residents to determine the goals and assets of a community and how to collectively approach those goals.
One of the major events in July was our first NR event, the Woodland Heights “Rally in the Alley.” Neighborhood leaders worked with area residents to determine specific alleys that had excessive trash and other debris that could be removed or alleys that would benefit from general yard maintenance and landscaping.
Residents of Woodland Heights worked side by side with volunteers from The Courageous Church, the Habitat Board and various committees, along with a diverse team from Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, MO in an effort to revitalize the neighborhood by making the alley’s attractive and safe. Thanks to all who came out and lent a hand to the project!
- Rally in the Alley Stats: 75 members of Courageous Church + 25 Woodland Heights residents + 10 our staff/board members impacted 300 homes in the Woodland Heights Neighborhood in 5 hours! That’s what I’m talkin’ about!
The Rally in the Alley was the first of what we hope will be many initiatives Woodland Heights has identified as a way to revitalize its neighborhood. In partnership with Habitat, along with other community organizations, Woodland Heights residents will set goals based on community assets, address community priorities to revive their neighborhood and enhance their quality of life. They will join area nonprofits, businesses, churches and the local government to discover what is most needed in the neighborhood to help implement a shared vision of revitalization.
I encourage you to read more about Neighborhood Revitalization and what’s happening in Woodland Heights. It’s truly an exciting time at Habitat for Humanity.
Blessings,
Larry Peterson
Executive Director
