Volunteers create homes with Habitat for Humanity

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Habitat for Humanity is currently hard at work on completing a home in Mt. Pleasant and already looking forward to their next project in Winfield.

With the help of the community and the home-owners-to-be, Habitat for Humanity creates safe, decent, and affordable shelter to help families create healthier familial cycles, build skills, and foster confidence.

August 2022, Henry County Habitat for Humanity started work on their 29th home. They are still currently building the home on South Jefferson Street in Mt. Pleasant.

“This partner is a single mom of two who has lived and worked in Mt. Pleasant many years,” Henry County Habitat Director Lisa Diener said. “So, she is able to stay close to family.”

Along the way, they continue to receive copious assistance and support from the community.

Mt. Pleasant Correctional Facility’s inmates created walls in their shop and donated their time in on-site labor for the construction of this home.

Various organizations donated lunches for build days, and many skilled laborers offered their services.

In October, Quality Equipment, David Calhoun of Big Creek Construction, Stanton Mertens of Mertens Farms answered the call to assist in installing trusses with the use of equipment and skills.

Despite days with real-feel temperatures below 20 degrees, and sometimes into the single digits, the organization and volunteers continued to make progress on this home through November and December 2022.

While the goal is usually to get homeowners into their houses by Christmas, this project has taken a bit of extra time.

“Hopefully we’ll be done by April,” Diener said.

By the end of January 2023, the team was able to finish hanging sheet rock, and complete the roof, two bedrooms, and four closets.

As the cold of February set in, McCoy’s Plumbing and Heating hooked up the furnace and Total Connection Electric provided power to run it.

“Right now we're working on interior doors and trim," Diener said.

Next week volunteers and the homeowner will work on trim and interior doors for the home.

As things finally begin to come together in Mt. Pleasant, the organization looks ahead to their 30th home.

Thanks to Winfield resident Jerry Fricke making a lot donation and passionately pursuing the project, the next homeowner-to-be is a single mom to three under 13 years old in Winfield.

While majorities of the homes Henry County Habitat builds are located in Mt. Pleasant, the next home’s lot is located in Winfield and building should begin this May.

“We haven't built in Winfield in a long time,” Diener said. “It'd be great to have a lot of community involvement.”

“We're excited to work in a new community we haven't been in a long time,” she said.

Henry County Habitat for Humanity seeks to partner with those in the Winfield and surrounding communities just as they are currently in Mt. Pleasant.

According to Diener, it is through the work of volunteers, monetary donations, and the community providing lunches that help keep the mortgages as low as possible for the future homeowners.

For more information on volunteering or donation to the current Mt. Pleasant home or the future Winfield home, please reach out to Lisa Diener (319) 931-0656.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com