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Hammering hope: Henry County Habitat builds more than homes in Mt. Pleasant
With its 31st home dedicated and the 32nd underway, the nonprofit unites local volunteers, businesses, and faith groups to tackle housing insecurity one family at a time
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — After months of contributing donations and volunteer hours, members of the Mt. Pleasant community gathered at 400 East Henry Street to celebrate more than just the completion of a house, but the opportunity to gift a single mother a real home prepared to house copious hopes and dreams.
A group gathered alongside Amber Waller on Sunday, Feb. 23 to mark the completion of Henry County Habitat for Humanity’s 31st home. The dedication ceremony honored Waller and her family, who are now the proud new owners of a safe, affordable home built through the compassion and generosity of their neighbors.
The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, words of thanks, and shared moments of reflection among volunteers, donors, and supporters. For many in attendance, it was a moment to witness the tangible results of countless hours of labor, coordination, and community commitment.
This latest build, a modest three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, reflects the core mission of Habitat for Humanity: to provide stable housing through partnerships rather than charity.
Local contractors such as Robert Smith Construction and Kinney and Sons Excavating & Grading provided much of the groundwork, but they were not alone in their efforts.
The heart of this project came together thanks to the volunteers who dedicated their weekends to bring the home to life.
Throughout the spring and summer of 2024, volunteers — ranging from seasoned tradespeople to first-time builders — gathered every Saturday to frame walls, install insulation, hang drywall, and paint interiors. Many brought their families along, turning the job site into a place of learning and service.
Others supported the build by preparing meals, coordinating logistics, or donating materials through Habitat’s “Stuff the Truck” drive in May 2024. That event, held in partnership with local businesses, brought in essential items such as appliances, cabinets, and construction supplies, easing costs and speeding up progress on the home and getting a jump start on the next home build.
Henry County Habitat for Humanity President Lisa Diener expressed sincere gratitude for the outpouring of community support. Her sentiments were echoed in every aspect of the celebration, from the warm embraces exchanged between volunteers to the emotional remarks shared by supporters who had followed Waller’s journey from application to move-in day.
Waller, a single mother, worked alongside volunteers to help build the very walls that now shelter her children. As part of Habitat’s sweat equity requirement, Waller contributed time and effort to her home’s construction, gaining not only a roof over her head but also a deeper connection to the community around her.
Waller not only chose many aspects of her home, but she also helped bring them to life as she did not hesitate to jump in with a nail gun, broom, or paint brush to get the work done.
With the 31st home complete and a new family settled in, Henry County Habitat for Humanity wasted no time. The next house will rise at 1305 E. Thistle Street, and construction crews have already begun preparing the site.
The organization is actively accepting applications for the next partner family. Applicants must meet specific criteria: a demonstrated need for improved housing, financial qualification (earning between 30 to 50% of Henry County’s median income), and a willingness to invest 300 hours of sweat equity. Once completed, the selected family will purchase the home through a zero-interest, 20-year mortgage, keeping monthly payments affordable, typically between $600 and $700, including property taxes and insurance.
Diener and her team emphasize that the program is about empowerment, not charity.
“We’re building homes in partnership with families,” Diener says of the program. “They work hard, they invest their time, and they earn their homes. That’s what makes Habitat for Humanity different — it’s a hand up, not a handout.”
Volunteerism remains at the core of every Habitat project. Build days for the 32nd house will follow the same Saturday schedule, from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. Anyone 16 years or older is welcome to participate, regardless of experience. Whether hammering nails, hauling lumber, or painting walls, volunteers make each project possible.
Beyond the build site, local organizations and churches continue to support the mission through donations, sponsorships, and community outreach. These partnerships have allowed Henry County Habitat for Humanity to maintain momentum across three decades of service, creating permanent, positive change in the lives of over 30 families.
The dedication program distributed at Waller’s ceremony included a powerful reminder that rings true for each Habitat home completed: “This home dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony are made possible by the hard work and generous contributions of our donors, sponsors, and volunteers. This home would not be possible without YOUR support!”
That message encapsulates the spirit of Henry County Habitat for Humanity — building more than homes, building hope.
As work begins on the next project, the organization remains a model of how local action, fueled by empathy and cooperation, can transform lives — one home at a time.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
