The Rocking the Block effort will soon be underway. We have selected four homes in the community to fix up, with the help of the local Housing and Redevelopment Authority. This is a collaboration between our United Way, Shinefest and Habitat for Humanity and will involve hundreds of volunteers over the week of Aug. 10-17.

We have received generous donations from ITC, Mayo Clinic Health System and 35 other community businesses as well as in-kind donations from Freeborn Lumber, Valspar, Home Depot, Alliant Energy, Thompson Sanitation and the city of Albert Lea.

To keep costs low so more work can be accomplished, we are looking for donations of the following materials: paint brushes and rollers, paint trays, masking tape, drop cloth, sheetrock and screws, joint compound, caulk, bleach, ceiling texture and etc. To find out specifics, please visit the United Way website: www.unitedwayfc.org and click on the Rocking the Block tab.

Please take a few minutes to read the story of last year’s effort (also found on the web site). You may download a volunteer form if you’re interested in helping out at one of the homes.

We will give people who donate a receipt for tax deduction purposes. Items can be dropped off at the United Way office, upstairs U.S. Bank, downtown Albert Lea. Please call 373-8670 if you have questions or need someone to pick items up.

This has been a wonderful community effort and continues to grow, thanks to some very dedicated volunteers. Thank you for the role you play, even if you just share the news with a friend!

 

Ann Austin
executive director, United Way of Freeborn County
Albert Lea