Volunteers, Residents ‘Rock’ Several Camden Blocks

CAMDEN – First-time homeowner Tynisa Williams, who lives with family members on Royden Street and will soon move into the first home she has owned, says she has felt different emotions lately.

“It is exciting, but I am also nervous because it is my first time living on my own, aside from a brief stint in college,” Williams told TAPinto Camden. “As much as it is liberating, I am also trying to find my feet doing the whole independent living thing at this point … So I am also (experiencing some) self-discovery.”

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Some of Williams’ nerves were put at ease on Thursday, September 26, when she received help from Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey volunteers with painting the stairs of the house in the 600 block of Clinton Street that she will start to call home “sometime in October.”

“I feel very grateful that there are so many people willing to help,” said Williams, 39. “It is very humbling and making me think maybe I should be doing more to help.”

The volunteers’ effort was not limited to Williams’ home. Up and down parts of Trenton Avenue, and on Berkely, Clinton, New, Newton, Royden, South Sixth and Washington streets on the city’s south side, about 100 Habitat for Humanity volunteers wearing neon yellow shirts spent their Thursday morning and early afternoon performing renovation and rehabilitation tasks on the exterior of 25 homes. This included replacing screens, caulking windows, sanding and cleaning porches, trimming trees and weeding yards, according to Annie Fox, the organization’s chief development officer.

The effort was part of the first Rock the Block Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey held in Camden in recent memory, organization representatives said.

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“It is definitely one of our biggest events of the year, specifically with engagement from the community and community partners,” Fox said in an interview. “This is the most volunteers we usually have within one day, and we are also making the biggest impact within one day. Our normal program is one house per day, or maybe up to three a day.”

According to Fox, the houses that volunteers rocked Thursday were chosen for their proximity to other houses that Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey is completely rehabilitating. Those who wished to have their houses spruced up as part of “Rock the Block” needed only to apply and show proof of homeowner’s insurance. Between financial donations from event sponsors and the volunteers’ efforts, about $50,000 in work was done and supplies donated.

For some volunteers, like those from The Working Group, a Pennsauken-based nonprofit that provides at-risk youth with opportunities to become self-sufficient and self-directed as adults, their effort offered multiple benefits.

“One of the things they have to do (while with The Working Group) is to get work skills so they can function in society, but it is also important to make sure they give back to their community,” Lavar Edwards, The Working Group’s community service supervisor, told TAPinto Camden. Behind him, students from the nonprofit organization replaced parts of a railing at a house.

Edwards continued, “When we have pride and appreciation for where we live, we're more likely to stay living where we live, rather than running out to suburbs or somewhere else because we feel safe because it's a clean environment. We can beautify our area and make this environment a safe and beautiful environment as well.”

For other volunteers, like Tom Adams, volunteering for events such as Rock the Block is an extension of how he likes to spend some of his free time.

“I do like helping,” he said as he worked on cleaning up a porch. “We have a lot of different opportunities for volunteering, but this one taps into my skill set. I own an old home that I am always fixing-up. So coming out here and sharing some of my skills makes me feel proud.”

Late Thursday afternoon and into the early evening, volunteers traded paint brushes, screwdrivers, power saws, and hedge clippers for cheesesteaks, balloon animals, informational brochures, organization swag and other items given away at a free block party and resource fair, which made up the second part of the Rock the Block event. It was open to everyone in the community, but representatives from Habitat for Humanity of South Central New Jersey and the financial sponsors made sure the volunteers were recognized.

“We are so happy for the team that is here today that is helping make (homeownership) a reality for people: Whether you painted, whether you swung a hammer, whatever it is that you did, you added to the reality of actually making somebody have housing capability,” said Paralee Knight, vice president of philanthropy and community at Wells Fargo, one sponsor. “We are so grateful to you for your work.”

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