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CVHBA Partners with Chippewa Valley Free Clinic

4/11/2012

The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association (CVHBA) announced its annual community involvement project today. In the coming months, CVHBA members will be helping the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic to prepare its new home at 836 Richard Dr. in Eau Claire. The free clinic has operated for the past 14 years out of donated space from the Valleybrook Church in Downtown Eau Claire.  Due to space constraints from both the church and the clinic, it was necessary for the Free Clinic to move to a larger location in order to serve patients appropriately.

The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association members will be making a number of improvements to the Free Clinic’s future home.  CVHBA will be acting as the general contractor for the renovations of the new space, and will donate time and negotiate material costs on behalf of the clinic. Some of the projects that will be taken care of by the CVHBA are to include drywall work, electrical work, painting, and the building of cabinetry and shelving. 

Karen Rockwell, CVHBA’s executive director said that, “We are excited to be able to help out the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic. The clinic provides a great deal of support to our local community, and we want to make sure that the doctors, nurses and staff will be able to do their jobs in a well-appointed new location.” Rockwell also noted that when the proposal to help the free clinic was brought up at a recent board meeting, members enthusiastically and unanimously voted to take on this much-needed project.

The executive director of the Free Clinic, Maribeth Woodford, stated that the free clinic depends on most of its resources from community sources in order to keep its doors open. She said that “We are honored to have the Builders Association offer their leadership in this huge way to support the transition to our new medical home. It will make a very important impact in the community and in the lives of our patient’s health and well-being.”

Rob Bearrood, the Vice President of the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic and member of the CVHBA, was also excited about the new project. He said that, “We are thrilled to have the CVHBA step up to the plate and help us with this vital community project. Their donation of time, materials and expertise will really help us keep our limited funds focused on our patient’s needs.”

Every year, the Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association selects one community project in its area of operation. Naturally, it is always a very tough decision in deciding which organization will be awarded the community service project. Last year, the CVHBA worked in a cooperative partnership with the city of Eau Claire in order to bring the community the Phoenix Park Restrooms.

Community members interested in the project can keep up to date on the progress of the work at the CVHBA Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CVHBA They may also visit the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic’s website at www.cvfreeclinic.org. The new building should be open and ready to serve patients around June 1^st.  

The Chippewa Valley Home Builders Association is a nonprofit trade association representing builder and consumer interests since 1972. Its mission is to build a better area housing industry through promotion, advocacy and education.

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