Habitat for Humanity looking for volunteers for 27th build

Henry County Habitat for Humanity broke ground in April on their 27th house, at 401 South Main Street in Mt. Pleasant and are in need of volunteers to help building on Saturdays or to provide lunch for workers.

Anyone whose 'arms move up and down” is qualified to volunteer to build the house, said Lisa Diener, president of Henry County Habitat for Humanity.

'A lot of the time, you see some of the same people come out on build days. You get to know them, and it becomes like a little family. That I enjoy immensely,” Diener said.

Build days will be every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, with lunch served at 11:15 a.m. Volunteers must be at least 16-years-old and anyone under 18-years-old will need parental permission. The goal of every Habitat home is for the family to be moved in by Christmas, Diener said.

Diener began volunteering with Habitat for humanity six years ago and become the president shortly after. What brings her joy is coordinating the build, volunteering on build days, seeing the homeowner participate in building their home and working alongside other community members volunteering their time, Diener said.

'I have always enjoyed building things. I got that from my father, and it feeds my soul to be able to help other people. This is just one of the ways I do it,” Diener said.

Diener said volunteers do not have to have any prior building experience. They can do anything from the simplest task of picking rocks off the lot to roofing.

'You don't have to have any skills, if you want to learn a skill or are interested in seeing how something is done, let us know and we can get you in on that build day,” Diener said.

Diener said that throughout her years volunteering with Habitat, she has learned not to have preconceived notion about someone else's skill or willingness to do what's asked of them.

'As soon as you ask someone if they are interested in doing something, a lot of times they will jump right in and do whatever the task is,” Diener said. 'If you just mention it, they are more than willing to do it and enjoy it. It just brings out such happiness that they are able to volunteer.”

Diener said that a few years ago, they began letting volunteers sign the studs of the house.

'They can write a message, sign it, whatever, but they are always going to be a part of that house. That really makes people happy,” Diener said.

For those who would like to volunteer but don't feel comfortable building, they are welcome to donate meals or water. Diener said meals can be as fancy as a casserole or as easy as hot dogs.

Families who apply for a Habitat home must be within 30 percent of the median income for Henry County, have a certain debt to income ratio, have to be willing to partner with Habitat and complete 300 sweat equity hours per adult, and cannot be on the sex offender registry.

Sweat equity hours can be made up in a variety of ways. It can be volunteering to help build the home, volunteering in the community, signing up their children for swimming lessons, donating a meal during build day or have friends and family volunteer to build or donate a meal. Sweat equity hours also require Habitat recipients to complete Dave Ramsey's financial peace course and write a letter about what it means to be a habitat partner.

The variety of ways people can complete their sweat equity hours helps them become more involved and invested in the community, Diener said.

'It's a way for them to realize there's more in the community they can do, whether it's volunteering or taking a Healthy Henry County class at the Fellowship Cup,” Diener said. 'It gets you involved and it's another way to give back.”

Bryce Creager, building manager with Henry County Habitat for Humanity, said that it's the giving back and working with people that keeps him volunteering.

'It's just a nice way to help out and give people a little hand up,” Creager said. 'These people are paying for this house, they're just getting it with a no interest loan. They're putting a lot of sweat equity to get the house and pass the qualifications. It's just a matter of community pride and personal pride to help.”

Creager said families have several floor plans they can pick from, and then it is redrawn and reshaped to fit the neighborhood of where the house is being built. Creager said they may change the roof line a little bit or add an attached shed.

The South Main Street is an 1100 square foot, ranch-style home with three bedrooms, one bathroom and a laundry room. It has no basement.

Creager said that if volunteers are willing, they are welcome to come out and work. 'We'll teach them what needs to be done and take precautions,” Creager said. For example, if someone is afraid of heights, they probably won't be asked to help with roofing.

Contract work is being done by TCE Electrical, Robert Smith Construction Co., Kinney & Sons Excavating and McCoy Plumbing & Heating. Contract work was awarded to low bidders.

Habitat homes are paid for by mortgage payments from people who received their homes in past years. Those mortgage payments are rolled over into the next house, Diener said.

Henry County Habitat for Humanity builds one house a year as long as there is a qualifying family, Diener said. There was not a Habitat house built in 2018.

Henry County Habitat for Humanity owns several lots around Henry County that they have either purchased or that have been donated to them.

For more information or to sign up for a build day visit Henry County Habitat for Humanity on Facebook. If anyone wishes to apply to be a Habitat recipient, applications are available on their website, at the Fellowship Cup or at the Mt. Pleasant Library. Applications will be accepted in the fall.