325 Volunteers Transform 28 Homes in De Pere in 3 Days

When Amanda Reps learned her De Pere neighborhood was selected for a massive community makeover, she jumped at the chance to finally update the landscaping she and her family had dreamed about for nine years.

Over three days in September, 325 volunteers transformed 28 homes in De Pere's west side Tree Streets neighborhood through Habitat for Humanity's Rock the Block event. The volunteers contributed more than 1,500 hours of labor, completing exterior improvements and landscaping projects that many homeowners couldn't tackle on their own.

Michelle Hansen, one of dozens of volunteers from Green Bay Packaging, captured the energy perfectly. "Just the progress that we've made in three hours is incredible," she said while working alongside neighbors.

The program specifically targets neighborhoods where it can make the biggest impact. Jessica Diederich, CEO of Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity, explained that they work with local municipalities to identify areas with high concentrations of owner-occupied homes and residents who meet income requirements.

For Reps, the experience went beyond just her own property. "We walk around the neighborhood a lot, so it's really nice to see all the projects that are being done," she said while working alongside volunteers on her yard.

The Ripple Effect

The transformation extended beyond individual homes. Volunteers and community partners also revitalized Kelly Danen Park, painting dugouts and creating a community mural on the baseball field that brings back nostalgic baseball memories for the neighborhood.

The collaboration brought together neighbors who might not have otherwise connected. Reps worked side by side with volunteers on her property, building relationships while building a better block.

This marks the third year De Pere has hosted Rock the Block, and the formula keeps working. By concentrating volunteer energy on one neighborhood at a time, the visible transformation creates momentum that inspires residents to continue maintaining and improving their community long after the volunteers pack up.

When neighbors see 28 homes transformed in 72 hours, it proves what's possible when a community decides to show up for each other.