Republic Services employees volunteer to build community in one of the Queen City’s historic areas during National NeighborWorks® Week

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 31, 2019 – Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership (DreamKey Partners) is celebrating National NeighborWorks® Week by teaming up with Republic Services for a day of community service in the historic Druid Hills neighborhood on Thursday, June 6, from 8 a.m. until noon. Nearly 150 volunteers will be rolling up their sleeves to paint, landscape and enhance deserving homes in the community.

“Our relationship with the Druid Hills area spans over decades. The neighborhood has such a rich history and culture, and has seen an increase in residential and commercial investments over the years, including Camp North End and Heist Brewery,” said Julie Porter, president of DreamKey Partners. “We’re excited to work alongside Republic Services employees to assist with the community pride that already exists among the residents. By putting in some sweat equity, we’re able to preserve and enhance the beauty of the area, for all those who call Druid Hills home.”

The homes selected for the work are located off of Statesville Avenue on Norris, Rodney and Holland avenues. Volunteers will pressure wash homes, seed and straw yards and clear common-area debris, as well as install flag holders and new front door numbers.

The project is being funded by a grant from the Republic Services Charitable Foundation’s National Neighborhood Promise program. Through National Neighborhood Promise, the Republic Services Charitable Foundation partners with select nonprofit organizations to directly support neighborhood revitalization projects in local communities through granted funds, donated products and services, and volunteer opportunities for employees.

“We are proud to partner with DreamKey Partners on this critical revitalization project in Druid Hills. DreamKey Partners’s focus on communities in Charlotte is a natural fit for us, as these are the same communities where many of our employees live and work,” said Glenn Kavanagh, Republic Services general manager. “We are committed to helping build stronger neighborhoods in our local communities.”

Located just two miles northwest of Uptown Charlotte, the Druid Hills neighborhood was built in the 1940s for returning military and their families. It was rooted in manufacturing industry with the first Ford Model T assembly plant outside of Michigan located on the southern edge of the neighborhood, on Woodward Ave. As the years went on and factories shut down, the once well-maintained bungalow homes suffered and were converted to rental properties. Today, the annual median household income in Druid Hills is $28,034, a fraction of Mecklenburg County’s average of $53,274.

Locally, DreamKey Partners has invested $638 million in affordable housing, completed 3,013 rental homes, created 4131 homeowners and counseled 23,733 families. It is part of the national NeighborWorks network, an affiliation of nearly 250 nonprofit organizations located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Since its inception in 1983, NeighborWorks Week showcases how the NeighborWorks network strengthens communities and celebrates our collective impact as a network.

 

ABOUT DreamKey Partners

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership (DreamKey Partners) is a broad-based, private, nonprofit housing development and financial corporation organized in 1988 to expand affordable and well-maintained housing and promote stable neighborhoods for low- and moderate-income families in the city of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. The agency provides assistance to residents of its properties to more fully enter the economic mainstream and achieve independence. For more information, please visit CMHP.org.

 

ABOUT REPUBLIC SERVICES

Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal. Through its subsidiaries, Republic’s collection companies, recycling centers, transfer stations and landfills focus on providing effective solutions to make responsive waste disposal effortless for its 14 million customers. We’ll handle it from here.®, the brand’s promise, lets customers know they can count on Republic to provide a superior experience while fostering a sustainable Blue Planet for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer and healthier world.

For more information, visit the Republic Services website at RepublicServices.com.

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