Whirlpool volunteers to work on social homes in Poland
Katowice/Bratislava, June 2013 – A group of 18 employees from Whirlpool’s factory in Poprad, Slovakia, is travelling to Katowice in Poland to work for three days on the construction of a shelter for women who are under the threat of losing their homes.
Katowice and nearby towns lack social housing that can shelter underprivileged groups, like single mothers or homeless people. In the summer of 2011, Habitat for Humanity started a new project in Gliwice in collaboration with the St. Brother Albert Aid Society. Their aim was to help socially marginalized groups to come back to society, find employment and develop their skills. Habitat for Humanity oversaw housing provisions and mobilized volunteers to build and renovate shelter.
Recently, one of the municipalities in the Katowice area offered to the society the free lease of its old building. The group has once again approached Habitat for Humanity to help with renovating and adapting this building for single mothers and homeless women.
Habitat for Humanity started to mobilize volunteers who could help with the necessary construction works. Whirlpool has been among the most committed partners of Habitat for Humanity. Every year, the corporation sends teams of volunteers throughout the region and helps many Habitat families to have a decent place to live. Whirlpool teams have worked in several locations in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland.
“By the end of 2013, more than 1000 Whirlpool people from the Europe, Middle East & Africa region will have built houses with Habitat for Humanity since we became partners in 2004. Every year, more and more people hear about the fun and fulfillment experienced by colleagues on Habitat builds and they too want to take part. This year we are sending volunteers to builds in Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and Poland. They will be building homes alongside the future homeowners – to celebrate, support and give back to the communities where we work,” said Esther Berrozpe Galindo, President of Whirlpool Europe, Middle East and Africa.
About Whirlpool Corporation
In more than eleven years of partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Whirlpool Corporation has donated more than 130,000 ranges and ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators to new Habitat homes built in North America, serving 65,000 families. The company has sponsored more than 100 homes around the world and served more than 16,200 families in Europe alone. Additionally, Whirlpool has donated more than 25,000 products to Habitat ReStores, helping to raise an additional 3.5 million in 2 years. A proud sponsor of the Carter Work Project since 2003, the value of the company’s commitment to Habitat nears 72 million. With active partnerships in 22 countries, Whirlpool has engaged 7000 employee volunteers and plans to support the work of Habitat around the world through product donations, financial contribution or volunteerism.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built and renovated more than 600,000 homes worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 3 million people. For more information, visit www.habitateurope.org.