The sounds of hammers and saws are like music to the ears of residents on Detroit’s east side. The Ford Volunteer Corps has once again teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to help revitalize a community.
Ford has been an official sponsor of Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliates since 1995, and the Ford Volunteer Corps continues to build on that commitment.
Hundreds of Ford volunteers put on MODEL Teams shirts and joined Habitat for Humanity in reestablishing a Detroit neighborhood. During the latest Detroit Blitz Build, Ford volunteers pre-built the frames for seven new houses and then helped raise the walls to make two of the houses homes for low-income families. With the help of Ford volunteers, Habitat for Humanity has put up 30 homes in this neighborhood in the past three years. Eventually, they will build 100 new houses and bring new life to a neighborhood that is growing one home and one family at a time.
Three years ago, Wendi Brantley and her two daughters moved into their Habitat home in a nearby area. She now works for the organization and is forever grateful for the helping hand. “This has been a life changing experience for me and my children,” said Brantley. “Words cannot express my gratitude toward the Ford employees who keep coming out.”
This is just the latest in a series of Ford volunteer building efforts. Our volunteers have participated in many Habitat for Humanity activities:
- We were proud to be a Host City Partner for the 2005 Habitat for Humanity International Jimmy Carter Work Project in Detroit and provided the largest contingent of volunteer teams for the project.
- During the 2006 Super Bowl in Detroit, Ford volunteers took part in the NFL Super Build, putting together frames that were shipped to the Gulf Coast to become homes for hurricane survivors.
- During the week of September 9, 2006, Ford volunteers around the world teamed up with Habitat to build 24 homes for people in need.
- In 2004—2005, Ford provided over 2,100 volunteers to work on the building of homes for Habitat for Humanity and its affiliates. Ford volunteers represent more than half of the total volunteers in Detroit.
Helping Tsunami Victims
In 2004, we joined with Habitat for Humanity International to help rebuild homes and communities in countries affected by the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Our contributions in these efforts included general funding and employee volunteers.
To contribute to the relief efforts, Ford of Thailand sent hundreds of Ford volunteers to the tsunami-ravaged area of Thailand. There are 24 families now living in homes built by Ford volunteers.
