Building Community Through Service: KeyBank and World Changers Bring Volunteers to West Park
At WPKND, we believe that strong communities are built by neighbors who show up for one another. Throughout the year, we are grateful to partner with volunteer groups, local businesses, and residents who generously give their time to make West Park a better place for everyone.
Recently, WPKND was lucky enough to be selected as a project partner for KeyBank's annual Neighbors Make The Difference Day, a day dedicated to employee volunteerism and community impact. Neighbors Make The Difference Day began in 1991 when a group of KeyBank employees in Alaska volunteered for service projects in their local community. By 1993, the idea had grown across many communities that KeyBank serves and officially became known as Neighbors Make The Difference Day. Today, it remains a cornerstone of KeyBank’s commitment to strengthening neighborhoods through volunteer service.
In June, a generous crew of Cleveland KeyBank employees, volunteered with WPKND staff to help restore the overgrown yard of an older adult resident in West Park. Throughout the afternoon, volunteers worked together to weed, trim, and clear away debris and transformed an unsafe outdoor space into a clean, welcoming yard the resident can be proud of. We are incredibly thankful to the KeyBank team for bringing helpful hands, positive energy, and a true spirit of service to our neighborhood.
Our volunteer partnerships continue this summer as WPKND prepares to team up again with World Changers, an organization that mobilizes student volunteers from churches across the country to serve communities through week-long construction-focused projects. This connection was made possible through the relationship WPKND has built with Gateway Church in Old Brooklyn and Pastor Tony Loseto and his wife, Beth, who reached out to see how World Changers could support home repair needs in West Park once again. For more than a decade, World Changers volunteers have traveled across the country, including to the Cleveland area, to make a difference through hands-on service projects. These mission trips bring together student groups who are excited to use their skills to improve homes and help residents maintain a safe and healthy quality of life.
This July, lead by a professional contractor and assisted by WPKND housing staff, World Changers student volunteers will paint the homes of three West Park residents. Through grant funding from our Senior Home Repair program, WPKND will be able to provide the paint and supplies needed to complete these projects. We are excited to welcome these volunteers into our community and appreciate their willingness to invest their time and talents into helping our neighbors.
Volunteer support is an important part of the work we do at WPKND. Whether it is helping a neighbor maintain their home, supporting community events, improving neighborhood spaces, or lending a helping hand where it is needed most, volunteers help make our programs and services possible.
There are many ways to get involved, including:
- Civic Leaders – Support community initiatives and neighborhood projects.
- The Green Team – Help keep West Park beautiful through beautification and cleanup efforts.
- Home Helpers – Assist older adults and neighbors with home-related projects.
- Event Ambassadors – Help create welcoming experiences at WPKND events and programs.
No matter your skills, schedule, or experience level, there is an opportunity to make an impact. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering with WPKND, we would love to connect with you. Visit our website to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how you can help make a difference in West Park. Together, we can continue building a stronger, safer, and more connected community, one neighbor at a time!