APPLETON (NBC 26) — It's not just the people we're shining a light on in our Celebrating Volunteers series, but a partnership. Together with the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, meet two groups who have come together to help families in our community live a better life.
"They're called Rebuilding Together, not rebuilding, and we're called Fox Communities," said Lynn Hopfensperger, the community development officer for Fox Communities Credit Union. "You take a community and put that together with the rebuilding, we're a match made in heaven."
For nearly 20 years, Rebuilding Togetherand Fox Communities Credit Union have been helping make homes safe and healthy for people in our community at no cost to homeowners.
"We're going to be putting in grab bars to make sure people can get in and out of the bathtub safely; we're going to be putting in stair rails to make sure you're navigating those stairs safely; we're going to make sure every home is fire safe," said Chip Wood, the executive director for Rebuilding Together.
While Fox Communities provides financial support, they also volunteer with Rebuilding Together. Last year, the nonprofit organization was able to help about 40 families in the Fox Valley; typically it's around 100 but was limited due to the pandemic.
However, their efforts in our area over the last two decades earned them this year's 2021 Business Partnership of the Year award sponsored by SECURA. You can watch their reactions in the video above, as well as find out why their friendship is more than just work.
With the award, they won $5,000 collectively which they're putting back into Rebuilding Together. Chip said with funds, they're able to stretch a $1 donation into $4 to help more people in our area. They service families and individuals in Outagamie, Calumet, Waupaca and Winnebago counties, and say they're always looking for volunteers.
