AVE SPONSORS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY’S ‘ROCK THE BLOCK,’ VOLUNTEERS PLANT TREES IN PHILADELPHIA SUBURBS

On April 23, AVE’s communities in the Greater Philadelphia area sponsored Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties’ ‘Rock the Block’ event, a day of community TLC and team building across three locations: Bywood Community Garden in Upper Darby, Norristown Farm Park in Norristown, and Edwood Cemetery in Pottstown.

“At Rock the Block, neighbors come out to support each other and make their neighborhoods better, greener, and more connected places to live,” says Jenara Gardner, Director of Development and Communications at Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery and Delaware Counties.

AVE team members gathered with 150 community volunteers on a beautiful Saturday afternoon to plant trees, remove invasive species, and revitalize the local parks while bonding over a shared passion for service and community. The day was filled with celebration and hard work as more than 100 trees were planted across all three locations.

“Having the opportunity to plant trees with AVE team members is a memory I'll always have. That was my first time planting a tree, and we all had so much fun together,” says Taylor Melchior, Social and Online Reputation Specialist with AVE. “Every person had a smile on their face the entire event. Team building, laughing, and helping to save the Earth all in one morning. I can't wait for the next event!”

Habitat MontDelco does more than build houses, they empower families, inspire hope, and bring people together to improve communities through Neighborhood Revitalization efforts, a mission AVE is proud to support.

“AVE’s commitment to community and being a good neighbor shined bright at Rock the Block,” says Gardner. “The AVE team of volunteers was ready to get their hands dirty and did so with a smile. We are so grateful for neighbors like AVE who are always looking for ways to give back and support our community.”

AVE formalized its partnership with Habitat MontDelco in January 2022 but has supported the organization’s housing projects by regularly donating furnishings to their Restore locations since 2019, with 1,733 pieces donated in total.

“The Rock the Block event was so special to us because our team members were directly able to positively impact our surrounding communities,” says Brooke Levin, VP Operations, AVE, who also spearhead the AVE partnership with Habitat MontDelco in Suburban Philadelphia. “When we help to improve a place, we are also helping to build better communities.”

For more information on how you can get involved with your local Habitat for Humanity, please visit https://www.habitat.org/volunteer/near-you.