NHS of Fox Valley volunteers 'dig in' to beautify Elgin

Nearly 130 volunteers teamed up to clean up the southeastern part of Elgin surrounding Garfield Elementary School as part of NHS of the Fox Valley's NeighborWorks Day in early June.

Beautification efforts included window replacement, fixing or removing fences, landscaping, planting flowers and bushes, and exterior painting. Around 20 homes of low-income homeowners also received home improvement work such as new porches and stairs. A community vegetable garden was also planted.

"NeighborWorks Day is a great time and creates lasting curb appeal," said Johnny Placeres, neighborhood director, NHS of the Fox Valley. "Long after our dedicated volunteers leave, the flowers will still be blooming and bringing beauty to Elgin."

This was the fourth year NHS of the Fox Valley participated in NeighborWorks Day, which included 600 volunteers working simultaneously in seven Chicago neighborhoods, including Back of the Yards, Roseland and West Humboldt Park.

Algonguin resident Kevin Stark, a board member of the Youth Leadership Academy, brought 32 cadets and parent supervisors to the Fox Valley event.

"We're glad to have the opportunity to give back to the community," Stark said. "The kids enjoy getting their hands dirty planting vegetables and painting fences. It means a lot to them because they know they're giving back to their neighborhood."

Elgin Mayor Dave Kaptain, who also serves as president of the NHS of the Fox Valley Local Advisory Council, said, "The mission of NHS of the Fox Valley is to create opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their neighborhoods. NeighborWorks Day gets to core of that mission and demonstrates a caring, community spirit."

Many partners were pivotal to making the NHS of the Fox Valley event successful, including the city of Elgin, the Elgin Community Network, Home Depot, Westar Homes, Waste Management, Youth Leadership Academy, The Larkin Center, Elgin Public Works, and the Elgin Police Department. Paint for the project was donated by Glidden Paint and Behr Paint.

The NHS of the Fox Valley office, 163 E. Chicago St. in Elgin, has free homebuyer education classes in English and Spanish, offers fixed-rate lending services, including loans for construction rehab, and other resources to help Elgin residents buy, fix, and keep their homes. For more information, call (847) 695-0399, or visit www.nhschicago.org.