Keller Williams volunteers working at their first of many stops.

We missed so many of our community adventures and friends this year. Special Olympics, volunteering for Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days, the list goes on of the activities and friends we look forward to and missed as we isolated at home this year. You likely have a list of favorite family and community events postponed for the safety of everyone around you. Like you, we have a new definition of “getting together” for the time being. We Zoom, wave through windows, and have dance parties with roommates.

Two local companies included us in their own community activities this fall, making us feel included, grateful, and even proud. Volunteers from Keller Williams Signature Realty of Loves Park, and Field of Machesney Park both organized exterior beautification and fall clean-up projects for Goldie Floberg children’s and adult group homes. Keller Williams Signature Realty chose Goldie Floberg for their Red Day, a day of community volunteering originally scheduled for May. When the pandemic forced the cancellation of their May event, The KW team organized their own local volunteer day in September.

Then, Field’s Do Good Team reached out, asking for exterior beautification projects too! The Do Good Team visited multiple homes in October — perfect timing for fall cleanup.

These exterior projects help us in multiple ways. Goldie Floberg is fortunate to have the ability to provide homes in residential neighborhoods throughout Winnebago County. With our limited resources, improvements to our homes typically revolve around the most urgent needs, pushing projects like deck staining, or transplanting hostas down the list. The KW and Field volunteers gave the children and adults we serve the opportunity to say “hi” to new friends, feel proud of the curb appeal of our homes, and nurture positive relationships with neighbors.

Before photo

Before volunteers helped with overgrown landscaping

We can see out our windows!