Eric Wells will join approximately 100 other Habitat for Humanity volunteers from across the country, 100 local Nashville volunteers and 100 Whirlpool volunteers as part of the inaugural Building Blocks program sponsored by Whirlpool. Wells was chosen to participate in the build because of his commitment to Habitat and the local Altus community.
The Building Blocks program, sponsored by long-time Habitat supporter Whirlpool Corporation, is designed to raise awareness of and help to eliminate substandard housing in the U.S. Each year Building Blocks will recognize an outstanding Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the U.S. and its relationship with its local community by holding a weeklong build in that affiliate's community. This year's build will be held in Nashville Nov. 4-10.
Whirlpool is one of Habitat for Humanity International's largest corporate partners and donates a refrigerator and range to every new Habitat for Humanity home built in North America.
To identify Wells and the other national volunteers, Habitat for Humanity International and Whirlpool selected 100 Habitat for Humanity affiliates it deemed to have demonstrated high standards of excellence. Altus Area Habitat for Humanity was one of those selected and asked to nominate an individual who demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to his or her community for the Building Blocks event.
“Eric Wells was a natural choice,” said Sue Newland, executive director of Altus Area Habitat for Humanity. “His contributions to the Altus area and Habitat for Humanity are remarkable. I can't think of anyone more deserving to participate in this worthwhile event.”
Wells and the other volunteers will raise walls, landscape, paint and perform other tasks for the weeklong build. Construction of a single Habitat for Humanity home typically takes eight days, spread across four weekends.
“I feel honored to have been chosen for the Whirlpool Building Blocks event,” said Wells, who has been a Habitat volunteer for two years. “I look forward to my trip to Nashville to help build 10 homes in partnership with 10 deserving families.”
Wells is a member of the Altus Area Habitat for Humanity board of directors and is committed to furthering the mission of Habitat in our community. For the past two years, he's been the volunteer who shows up for everything and is willing to do anything, including building, fundraising, and administrative work.
The 10 homes in the Building Blocks project will be built in the Providence Park area, Nashville's first all-Habitat community and the nation's largest contiguous all-Habitat community. Providence Park was started in 2002 by the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity and now has more than 81 Habitat homes. The Building Blocks project will be the largest multi-home build in the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity's 21-year history.
“Whirlpool's partnership with Habitat for Humanity is built on the foundation of our people. Through their effort and passion, we have been able to support over 35,000 families since our partnership began,” said Jeff Terry, Director, Corporate Commitments for Whirlpool. “Whirlpool Building Blocks is really about bringing people together from all over the country to build in partnership with deserving families,” Terry continued. “If we can help bring people to experience the life-changing work of Habitat for Humanity, hopefully everyone will go back home with an urgency and energy to continue Habitat's work in their home town and around country,” Terry said.
Altus Area Habitat for Humanity is an independent, nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry that partners with people of all beliefs. Altus Area Habitat for Humanity has been an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International since 2000 and has built three homes and renovated two others.
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