Belleville home rehab group gets extra volunteers

BY LAURA GIRRESCH - News-Democrat

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BELLEVILLE -- The group that turns around run-down homes in the west end of town is getting a boost from some extra volunteers.

AmeriCorps volunteers, who participate in various projects throughout the metro-east, for the first time are working with Belleville's West End Redevelopment Commission. The volunteers began work with the commission last week at a home at 20 S. 101st St. The commission purchased it several months ago at a public auction. When it finishes rehabilitating the house, it'll sell it to fund other ongoing projects.

"Certainly it's wonderful to have extra volunteer help," said Linda Havlin, the commission's executive director. "We're always looking for volunteers who want to work with our West End Redevelopment Commission and try to make a home a nice place."

Amanda Guinn, the AmeriCorps program director in Belleville, said most of her organization's volunteers are from the metro-east. The Belleville group is a branch of the national organization, which is federally funded. Belleville AmeriCorps partners with the city, with Southwestern Illinois College, with Belleville School District 118, with neighborhood associations, and with other nonprofits. It aims to strengthen the community and help bolster education in local schools.

The group is helping other programs this summer, including three summer camps, a food co-op at Christ United Church of Christ in Belleville, and Neighbors for Renewal, another Belleville group dedicated to rehabilitating homes that are in disrepair. Neighbors for Renewal sells the homes at reduced prices to lower-income buyers.

About 10 AmeriCorps volunteers -- who receive only a stipend to help with living expenses -- signed up to help the West End group. Guinn said the volunteers will continue to help out this summer.

"Our goal is to strengthen the community of Belleville," she said, adding that the West End project "...Fits in really well with our mission: developing the community, helping different partnerships thrive."

Contact reporter Laura Girresch at lgirresch@bnd.com or 239-2507.

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