Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc. (HabiJax) announces its first Rock the Block event to transform one neighborhood block in New Town on Monday, Jan. 18, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Rock the Block will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on State Street West in New Town in partnership with Wells Fargo volunteers as a community-wide MLK Day of Service activity. A community Welcome Rally celebration will begin at 8 a.m. at the Edward Waters College Adams Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex, 1859 Kings Road, Jacksonville, Fla. 32209.

Rock the Block will beautify the New Town neighborhood as volunteers take on more than 20 projects to boost homes’ curb appeal, such as completing landscaping enhancement, Right-of-Way cleanup, exterior repairs and painting projects.

Work will commence at 9 a.m. on State Street West, between Acorn and Tyler streets, in New Town. Lunch will be provided to volunteers at 12:30 p.m. at the lot located at the northwest corner of Callan and West State streets when Rock the Block concludes.

“Rock the Block is all about helping neighbors and connecting with our community,” said Mary Kay O’Rourke, president and CEO of HabiJax. “We look forward to seeing the transformation of the neighborhood block as a result of many hardworking people helping one another.”

The largest affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in the U.S., HabiJax has provided housing services to more than 2,000 families since 1988. In order to make a greater impact in Jacksonville neighborhoods, HabiJax has committed its experience, housing products and services to revitalizing the historic neighborhood of New Town and is a partner in the New Town Success Zone. HabiJax has built more than 250 homes to date in New Town and HabiJax has invested $16 million to complete more than 400 homeownership and rehabilitation projects in the area and is on track to meet its goal.

During its 27 years of building communities with its partners, HabiJax has improved the city of Jacksonville with high-quality affordable homes and enhanced neighborhoods, providing a better quality of life for homeowners and their children in five areas of the Urban Core of Jacksonville.

For more information about HabiJax or to learn about its mission, volunteer opportunities and more, visit www.HabiJax.org.