For Immediate Release
June 14, 2008
Contact Person: Deb Berner
Phone: 330-763-2871
E-Mail: deb.berner@csb1.com
Lawrence School Students Volunteer at Holmes County Habitat Work Site
How do visitors normally spend two days in Amish Country in Holmes County? Many tour the back roads, shop at the wide variety of stores and eat at many of the great restaurants. Well for six students and two teachers from the Lawrence School in Broadview Heights, they spent their two days in Holmes County volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
The students traveled to Holmes County in May and were hand-picked to represent the school. The group included Jack Chapman, Colin McGinn, Devon McKinney, Paul Matia, Scott Pence and John Tomsich. Staff members Tracy Pedaline and Dan Thompson accompanied the students. While most of the students knew little of Habitat and its mission, they left Holmes County with the knowledge that they had contributed to the mission to provide simple, decent, affordable houses for people in Holmes County. They also learned of the opportunities to volunteer with Habitat in their local communities or while at college.
The group spent two full days at the Habitat home currently being built in partnership with Betty Miller and her three children. The home is located just off State Route 83 south of Millersburg. They arrived very willing to help in any way they could and were put to work immediately upon their arrival. They helped to build the home by framing, insulating, drywalling and performing other tasks as needed.
“We were so impressed with the young men from the Lawrence School and this proved to be a wonderful project and partnership,” stated Deb Berner, Holmes County Habitat president. “While we really appreciate the work they did for us, we are equally excited about the interest they showed in continuing to support other Habitat affiliates once they returned home or as they attend college.”
And by the way, the Lawrence School group did get to enjoy the normal side of Holmes County that visitors normally see. They at a family style meal at Der Dutchman in Walnut Creek, while their overnight stay was provided free of charge by The Inn at Honey Run.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry. Habitat works in partnership with people to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to Habitat’s partner families, at no profit and with no interest charged. Partner families invest hundreds of hours of their own labor – sweat equity – into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses. More information about Habitat for Humanity can be found at www.habitatofholmescounty.org or by leaving a message at 330-674-HOME. (see photos)
For Immediate Release
June 9, 2008
Contact Person: Deb Berner
Phone: 330-763-2871
E-Mail: deb.berner@csb1.com
Habitat to Dedicate Apostles Build Home and Hold Groundbreaking for Builders Blitz Home
Holmes County Habitat for Humanity will hold a combined dedication and groundbreaking service on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 2:30 to celebrate the completion of the Apostles Build home and to begin the construction of the Builders Blitz home. The ceremony will be held at the home sites on Wooster Road in Millersburg and the public is invited to attend. The properties sit on the east side of Wooster Road, between the Victorian House and Village Motors.
The Apostles Build home was built in partnership with the Sheila Summers family. An Apostles Build is a partnership that allows area churches to join together and fully fund and build a house, with each church or group of churches taking the responsibility for the volunteer labor. Area churches that took part in the Apostles Build include: Berlin Mennonite, Faith Lutheran, Longenecker Mennonite, Martin?s Creek Mennonite, Millersburg Christian, Millersburg Presbyterian, Millersburg United Methodist, Nashville Church of Christ, St. John?s Church of Millersburg, St. John?s Lutheran Church, Ripley Church of Christ and Walnut Creek Mennonite.
The Builders Blitz home is being built in partnership with the Ben & Delta Tish family. A Builders Blitz is a partnership with area contractors and companies that commit to getting the home built in a matter of just two to three weeks. Those that have committed to this project to date are: Donald C. Baker Surveying, Berlin Contractors, Ivan Yoder Builders, Miller, Mast & Mason, Millersburg Electric, North Central Insulation, R & E Bobcat, Rockwood, Rohr Construction and TAC Systems. Initial plans are to have the Builders Blitz home completed and the family moved in by the end of July.
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry. Habitat works in partnership with people to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to Habitat?s partner families, at no profit and with no interest charged. Partner families invest hundreds of hours of their own labor ? sweat equity ? into building their homes and the homes of others. Their mortgage payments go into a revolving Fund for Humanity that is used to build more houses.
More information about Habitat for Humanity can be found at www.habitatofholmescounty.org or by leaving a message at 330-674-HOME.
For Immediate Release
March 27, 2008
Holmes County Habitat for Humanity
Contact Person: Deb BernerPhone: 330-763-2871
E-Mail: deb.berner@csb1.com
Habitat Announces Groundbreaking Date for Next Home
The Holmes County Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the group?s next home on Sunday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m. The home is being built in partnership with Betty Miller and her three children and is expected to take approximately three months to complete.
The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at the home site at 8252 Township Road 102, which is just south of Millersburg. The public is invited to attend. Those attending should look for signs and/or the Habitat trailer on State Route 83 for parking.
?Members of the First Christian Church of New Philadelphia and Crossroads Missions have already built the framing for this home,? stated Deb Berner, President of Holmes County Habitat for Humanity. ?The framing was built over a weekend last fall in the parking lot of the church. It was then marked, dismantled and is being stored until it is needed.? First Christian Church Pastors Jim Borton and David Carrick led this project.
More information about Holmes County Habitat for Humanity can be found at www.habitatofholmescounty.org, or by calling Deb Berner at 330-674-2847. Those interested in volunteering for this home build should contact Berner. All levels of experience are welcome.
To date, the Holmes County affiliate has built 20 homes with 21 partner families using local volunteers. The owners of these homes are generating more than $20,000.00 in real estate taxes per year in Holmes County. HFH of Holmes County is the only non-profit provider of owner-occupied housing for low-income families in our service area and is well known in the community. It creates partnerships with individuals, churches, businesses and foundations. (see photos)
