‘Our Efforts were Making a Difference’ as Employees Improve their Community

It was a muggy, overcast morning – not ideal for mowing your lawn or trimming the bushes, let alone doing that for an entire neighborhood.

Some of the team that worked on cleaning up the neighborhood near the Durfee Innovation Center in early October.

Yet, on Tuesday, Oct. 2, about 50 Walbridge, DFM Solutions and Devon Industrial Group (DIG) employees spent their morning trimming branches, mowing lawns, cleaning alleys and picking up garbage during the continued effort to support Life Remodeled at the Durfee Innovation Center.

Partnering with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, employees arrived early, meeting the thousands of other volunteers from companies across Metro Detroit. In total, an army of 10,000 volunteers cleaned up blight around the neighborhood during the week.

“Without hesitation, we rallied together to cut down trees, branches and roots that were in the way of alleys so the children who live in the area have an easier path to walk to school and play,” said Carly Hernandez, Marketing Analyst at Walbridge. “My favorite part was seeing many of the residents who live in the area appreciating the work we were doing. A few of them would even come out on their doorsteps and say how happy they were.”

The work included more than 10,000 volunteers beautifying 316 city blocks that surround the Durfee Innovation Center. Teams cleared 102 alleyways and 396 houses during the week and added more than 700 trees, shrubs and perennials, among other work.

Anthony King, Talent Acquisition Manager at DFM Solutions, was thankful for the opportunity to help out in the community by weed whacking, lawn mowing, pulling weeds, sweeping and picking up trash.

“Our efforts were making a difference and impacting the lives of others in a positive way,” he said.