ELLSWORTH – St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity has worked with some of Ellsworth’s community leaders to bring Rock the Block, a neighborhood revitalization project, to Ellsworth from Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

The projects of Rock the Block range from yard work and outdoor repairs to cleanup work. Rock the Block: Elevate Ellsworth is looking for volunteers, and even more so is looking for people to submit projects through the website.

“We don’t know Ellsworth as well as Ellsworth knows Ellsworth,” Kristie Smith said. “The people who live in town, the people who work in town, on a regular basis, know much more about what’s needed and where to find it.”

Smith, executive director of St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity, wants people to know that this project is for anyone and everyone that needs help, and without applicants, there will be no place for the volunteers to go.

“There’s nothing wrong with needing help, this is what we’re here for,” Smith said.

Smith said projects like this take an entire community together, and Ellsworth has done this. The project will have involvement from the school district, with Ellsworth High School’s “Day of Service” providing volunteers. Other partners include the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce and the village as a whole.

Ellsworth High School Principal Oran Nehls said the partnership with the “Day of Service” can allow students to continue to do these projects after the day if they wish.

“Why don’t we do that as the launching point, and then from that point on the Elevate Ellsworth will be that weekend,” Nehls said. “Maybe it can spill over and kids can then become, ‘Well hey, this is fun. I’m going to keep doing this.”

Village President Becky Beissel knows how well the Ellsworth community steps up to these volunteer opportunities, saying sometimes they just need an opportunity such as Rock the Block to do it.

“The community is always so giving, and they’re so willing to always step up and lend a hand,” Beissel said. “They just don’t always know how, or when, or where. They almost need that, ‘Okay, show up with your gloves and your hammers and let’s get this done.’”

Smith said this project will not only help the homes receiving the volunteer work, but will provide a boost for everyone in Ellsworth.

A part of the project’s value for Nehls is that the projects are getting done because the community members want to improve the community, not because of any personal gains.

“It’s not a fundraiser, it’s not a festival, it’s doing something to build your community because we want to,” Nehls said.

Habitat for Humanity is also doing work outside of Rock the Block in Ellsworth, including the purchase of land for affordable housing construction near the middle school. Smith hopes Rock the Block can help Habitat for Humanity grow closer to the Ellsworth community, to make more projects such as affordable housing happen. In addition, Smith hopes the community can grow closer to each other during the interactions.

“The trend of knowing who your neighbors are can sometimes get lost in our busy days,” Smith said. “Let’s help each other out because that’s what the fabric of a community is.”

Nehls and Beissel hope this year is just the blueprint, and the project can become an annual thing after assistance from Habitat for Humanity.

To sign up to volunteer or to have work done on your home, visit www.scvhabitat.org/rock-the-block-1.