Flat River Outreach Ministries Accepting Neighbor to Neighbor Applications

Flat River Outreach Ministries’ (FROM) Neighbor to Neighbor program began in 2010.  Through an application process, members of the Lowell community are able to ask for assistance in winterization projects around the home such as insulation, furnace check, raking leaves, and cleaning gutters.  FROM has partnered with the Rotary Club of Lowell and Impact’s Love Week and other groups to gather volunteers to get work completed each year.  

Coming Together for Community

Last year over 25 volunteers from Rotary Club of Lowell, Lowell Moose Lodge, and Impact Church’s Love Week spent four and a half hours at six homes helping with various tasks which included mowing and raking, installation of plastic on windows, checked furnace filters and smoke alarms, added weather-stripping, and insulated pipes.  

“Neighbor to Neighbor is important for our community and for FROM because it embodies what FROM is all about; neighbors helping neighbors. It’s a way for our community to rally around each other and show their support which is something our community is known for,” says Dawn Broene, Executive Director at FROM. “By providing weatherization services for our neighbors in need we are helping them reduce their energy bills, which will continue to help them during the winter weather season. It may be just a few hours out of our day, but it can make a big difference for our neighbors in need.”

Each application will be reviewed with each homeowner being contacted to determine more specifics on projects so the appropriate number of volunteers can be assigned.  Should a request fall outside the scope or capabilities of volunteers in the program, FROM will attempt to connect the homeowner with outside resources to address needs.  

FROM is currently accepting applications for this year’s Neighbor to Neighbor program.  The organization anticipates helping six to eight households this year but the needs described on applications will determine a final number.  Filling out an application does not guarantee it will be accepted. Applicants for the program also need to live within the Lowell Area School District.  Applications are currently being accepted and are due by Saturday, October 12. Questions about the program or application can be directed to FROM at 616-897-8260 or by sending an email to [email protected].  

Photos provided by FROM and used with permission.