In partnership with Lowe's, NHS of Chicago transforms blocks

CHICAGO, June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This month Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) in partnership with Lowe's completed two beautification projects in one of NHS' targeted neighborhoods, Auburn Gresham. NHS of Chicago was awarded a $100,000 grant from Lowe's this year to complete the two projects in the neighborhood.

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The first project was completed on the 7800 Block of South Aberdeen in the City of Chicago's micro-market program area as part of its 25th Annual NeighborWorks® Day on Saturday, June 2.   For the project, volunteers from Lowe's and community leaders distributed home safety kits containing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, flashlights and batteries, installed weather stripping and caulked windows and assisted with "curb appeal" and facade improvements to 30 to 40 existing homes.  NHS also partnered with Genesis Housing to provide structural weatherization to the house utilizing recently-trained local contractors. 

On Saturday, June 16 NHS of Chicago, along with Lowe's volunteers and local residents, completed the second project for the grant.  The project took place on the blocks of 400 W. 79th Place, 400 W. Vincennes, 400 W. 80th and 7900 S. Normal.  The project began with a landscaping workshop conducted by Lowe's to show homeowners the proper way to plant flowers.  Following the workshop, home owners on the block planted the donated plants and flowers at their homes to add some curb appeal to their property.  In addition, other volunteers built a community garden to spruce up the block. 

In total 47 homes were impacted by the projects.  The projects would not have been possible without the support from Lowe's.  On both occasions, Lowe's volunteers partnered with the local residents to help them spruce up their block while demonstrating to them a few small improvements that can be made to a home to increase its curb appeal.  While NHS is grateful to Lowe's, the homeowners benefited from the lessons taught and are excited to have some visual additions to their homes.  They also now have a bit more pride in their block and the community they call home. 

Established in 1975, NHS of Chicago is the city's largest nonprofit community development organization committed to providing Chicago and Elgin residents affordable resources so they can buy, fix, and keep their homes. Since its creation, NHS has created more than 3,880 new homeowners.  NHS also works to stimulate community reinvestment through a partnership of residents, businesses, and government.  With the help of these partners, NHS has leveraged investment of more than $1.1 billion in Chicago's neighborhoods.  

NHS Chicago is also part of the NeighborWorks® America network, which includes 235 independent, community-based nonprofit organizations serving more than 4,500 communities nationwide.

For more information on NHS, please call (773) 329-4010 or visit www.nhschicago.org.

Lowe's has been helping customers improve the places they call home for more than 60 years.  Founded in 1946, Lowe's has grown from a small hardware store to the second-largest home improvement retailer worldwide. Lowe's stores stock 40,000 products in 15 product categories ranging from appliances to tools, to paint, lumber and nursery products. Lowe's has hundreds of thousands of products available by Special Order – offering everything customers need to build, maintain, beautify and enjoy their homes. Lowe's operates more than 1,745 stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Customer service and community service are core commitments of Lowe's and its 234,000 employees.  Their willingness to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty has helped engage the entire work force. As Lowe's ambassadors, the employees reinforce Lowe's culture of caring and spread awareness of the company's mission to every new community they enter.

Contact: Stephanie Martel, NHS of Chicago
(773) 329-4104

SOURCE Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago