Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity launches third-annual Rock the Block

DE PERE – Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity welcomed more than 125 volunteers, community partners, and sponsors on Wednesday, Sept. 16, as the organization kicks off its third-annual Rock the Block neighborhood revitalization event in the City of De Pere.

Volunteer check-in and kickoff activities began at Home Base, Cedar Creek Event Center, before volunteers deploy throughout the Tree Streets neighborhood on the city’s west side to complete critical exterior home repairs, maintenance projects, landscaping and neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Over the course of three days, Rock the Block 2026 brought together approximately 325 volunteers contributing more than 1,500 volunteer hours in support of 28 local homeowners.

In addition to residential revitalization efforts, volunteers and community partners completed a special community art project at Kelly Danen Park, where the baseball field dugout was transformed through the creation of a new mural designed to enhance the neighborhood gathering space.

Rock the Block 2026 is in partnership with the City of De Pere and made possible through the generous support of local businesses, community organizations, and sponsors committed to strengthening neighborhoods and supporting affordable homeownership opportunities.

Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity would like to recognize this year’s Change Champions Sponsors, including De Pere Christian Outreach, The Home Depot, and Renewal by Andersen, for their significant investment in the event and the families it serves.

Renewal by Andersen supported improvements at three Rock the Block project sites, including two homes on Pine Street and one home on North Ninth Street. Meanwhile, The Home Depot activated more than 40 employee volunteers on Wednesday and Thursday, working on projects throughout Pine Street, North Ninth Street, Spruce Street and Ash Street.

“The tremendous support we’re seeing for our third annual Rock the Block event continues to inspire us,” said Kaylee Prebelski, Rock the Block Program Manager for Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity. “Each year, we watch neighbors, businesses, volunteers, sponsors, and community leaders come together around a shared purpose. These partnerships demonstrate not only what’s possible when we work together, but also the pride and love we all have for the place we call home. Rock the Block reflects Habitat for Humanity’s mission by helping homeowners maintain safe, stable and affordable housing while strengthening entire neighborhoods in the process.”

Rock the Block is a neighborhood revitalization initiative launched by Greater Green Bay Habitat for Humanity in 2024. The program was created to provide owner-occupied households with access to volunteers, resources, and support for critical exterior home repairs, maintenance, and cleanup projects that homeowners may struggle to complete on their own due to financial constraints, physical limitations, age, disability or the overwhelming scope of the work.

By helping residents preserve the homes they already own, Rock the Block extends Habitat’s mission beyond new home construction and supports long-term affordable homeownership throughout Brown County. The program also fosters stronger neighborhoods through volunteerism, community pride, and meaningful collaboration among residents, businesses, nonprofits and local governments.