Nonprofit organizations and businesses are coming together for Building Blocks, a community effort to revamp homes along North Hamilton Street.

Neighbors of Watertown, First Presbyterian Church and the Northern New York Community Foundation have partnered in the project, in which dozens of volunteers will work on 12 rehabilitation projects at eight locations from Aug. 2 to 6.

"We've been doing the nitty-gritty with finding the (homes) and doing the work scopes, going out and walking the property," said E. Hartley Bonisteel, Neighbors of Watertown grant application specialist and Building Blocks coordinator. "We will purchase the materials in July."

She said nearly $10,000 in recaptured city Community Development Block Grant funds, $10,000 from the Community Foundation and $10,000 from First Presbyterian Church will pay for the project.

The Rev. Frederick G. Garry, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, said other partners have jumped on board in support of the project, including the American Red Cross of Northern New York, which will provide lunches, and the YMCA and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, which will provide volunteers. People from the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park will help spruce up a park.

"I've never seen so many groups come together so easily, and with enthusiasm," the Rev. Mr. Garry said. "It feels we've tapped an untapped resource."

Ms. Bonisteel said Neighbors and its partners worked together to make Building Blocks happen because the city won't receive any help this year from World Changers, a program sponsored by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. World Changers allows youths from grades six through 12 and college students to participate in renovation projects in the Untied States, Puerto Rico, Canada and elsewhere.

The group had been to Watertown for the past few summers, helping to rehabilitate homes.

Building Blocks projects will include repairing porches, putting on siding and demolishing garages as well as smaller exterior touch-up projects that a homeowner normally might have to wait for.

Kenneth J. McAuliffe, Community Foundation board president and superintendent of Lowville Academy and Central School, said the foundation will continue to embrace helping neighbors.

"Working together really does pay dividends to the entire community," he said.