Two West Sacramento volunteers work hard together to make a difference in the community and their neighborhood. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Need new paint, fencing, landscaping, roofing or dry root repair?

West Sacramento and Habitat for Humanity have your back, or backyard for that matter, at the 2024 Rock the Block on Oct. 11 and 12. But don't let the far-off date fool you; applications for upgrades must be in by June 3 and is the third year of the five-year commitment made at Bryte Broderick. While West Sacramento vowed $250,000 over five years at $50,000 a year, Habitat's investment this round is $200,000.

Since 2022, Bryte Broderick alone has seen more than 800 volunteers, who have provided 5,600 hours of labor for 24 home repairs and 15 community projects, totaling more than $365,000 in investment.

A West Sacramento child volunteer at Rock the Block 2023 helps fix what is broken for those in need. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

The city and nonprofit organization have partnered again for the third year, bringing in more than 400 volunteers who are ready to give 2,800 hours of service, according to West Sacramento Economic Development manager Meaghan Stiles.

"The City Council and the city manager wanted to make sure residents in that area and the community know money was specifically allocated to them," Stiles said. "So the money in this contract for Habitat for Humanity is not going to be used anywhere else in the city besides Bryte Broderick."

Some community projects completed in the last few years include refreshing paint, bark and planter boxes at the YCCA, weed abatement at Elkhorn Park, limestone paths and landscaping at Shores of Hope, and new fencing and gutters at Holy Cross Paris.

Rock the Block volunteers are ready to tackle two days of hard work to help rehabilitate area homes. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

"We like to say, 'it takes a community to build a community,' and that could not be truer for the Rock the Block Bryte Broderick,” said Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento chief advancement and marketing officer Kimberly Cole.

"This life-changing work wouldn't be possible without the advocacy of people like Mayor Guerro and Mayor Pro Tem Orozco, and the many volunteers, community partners and generous supporters who come alongside us to provide such critical services to friends and neighbors in need," Coley said.

The upcoming West Sacramento Rock the Block is a community event for all to enjoy, with fire trucks and fun for children. Photo courtesy of the City of West Sacramento

Some of those friends and neighbors include the senior population.

"A lot of the people we end up doing more for are older since they may be on a fixed income and they just don't have the resources financially or physically to rehab," Stiles said. "Whether it's a fence or painting their house, it's just a way to beautify their neighborhood so everybody there can be proud of it."

And it's not just about the materials.

"Especially for older individuals," Stiles said, "it lets them know we see them and that there are people there who still care about them."

With care comes safety, according to Stiles, who said that, along with rehabilitation, volunteers thoroughly inspect homes for safety to identify any further work that might be needed. West Sacramento departments take time from their daily city schedule to contribute labor, including "parks employees that kind of divert the work that they normally do on that day to focus on the projects we've identified," Stiles said.

"Folks will kind of go through the house in general and just let the resident know if there are things that are unsafe also," Stiles said. "So really making sure someone has eyes on the whole house."

With all the labor involved in the two-day event, Community Fun Day complements the hard work with free food and activities for all residents, regardless of whether they volunteer.

"It's just a feel-good event," Stiles said. "It's a really good way for people to know that the city and others are looking out for them and are there to lend a helping hand. "

To submit a repair for your home, download an application at www.habitatgreatersac.org/rockbrytebroderick.

For sponsorship, email [email protected]. For volunteer opportunities, email [email protected].