GARDNER — Celebrating both its 19th year of existence and its latest successful homeownership project, Habitat for Humanity of North Central Massachusetts welcomed dozens of members and residents from across the region to its annual meeting at the Waterford Street School and a home dedication on Harvard Street, Saturday. “For us, this is a real success,” said Habitat Executive Director Megan Foley as she handed the keys to the home at 161 Harvard St. to Karen Gravel and her daughter, Stacy, who officially moved in Saturday afternoon. “The biggest thing is when we turn over a home to a family.”
Habitat originally built the home in 1999, said Ms. Foley, and gave to a Habitat client the next year. About six months ago, however, the homeowner called the organization and said she was getting married and would be moving. Habitat repurchased the home, said Ms. Foley, and after roughly three months of refurbishment it was given to Ms. Gravel. The home is the first that the group has “recycled,” she said. Ms. Foley said the group’s ability to use the home twice is a testament to the fact that homeownership provides stability and “really makes a difference” in people’s lives. “It does take a village,” she told the gathered crowd, which she estimated at approximately 70 people. “And you’re part of the village.” |
As part of the dedication, Ms. Foley said the organization will also make a $4,200 contribution to Habitat for Humanity International, the cost of building a home in an underdeveloped country. That contribution, she said, is a standard part of every home dedication. “Every time we build a house, we’re actually building two houses,” she said. Don Capman, vice president of the group’s Board of Directors, said Ms. Gravel first applied for a Habitat home several years ago.
Since then, he said, she has volunteered countless hours to the organization without knowing when a home would become available. “Our wish is that you guys will have many happy years in this house,” he told Ms. Gravel and her daughter. City Councilor Ron Cormier, who represented the city government at the dedication, praised the group for its efforts and the positive influence it has had on the lives of those in need. “This is just absolutely a marvelous occasion,” he said. “We always talk about the bad things that happen in the world. This is a great thing.”
Ms. Gravel was brief in her remarks, thanking Habitat and those present for their efforts. "I'm very excited," she said. The dedication followed the group's annual meeting, held at the Waterford Street School. Ms. Foley said that in recent years, the group has grown substantially and has continued to extend its reach through partnerships with the community. The most telling indicator of the group's growth, she said, may be seen in the number and frequency of homes it has built. Between 1988, the year the group was founded, and 1999, it built and turned over only three homes. |
It built one home a year from 2000 until 2003, and two homes a year from 2004 to 2006. Three homes were built or turned over so far in 2007, said Ms. Foley, and four are lined up for 2008. The goal, she said, is to complete the group's 20th home in 2008 as part of the 20th anniversary celebration, with a gala event tentatively scheduled as part of the milestone festivities.
Partnerships with Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School, the Leominster Center for Technical Education and the Leominster Lions Club have provided young people with hands-on construction experience while helping Habitat fulfill its mission, said Ms. Foley. "The kids are not only getting lessons in construction, but also in civic engagement and responsibility," she said. The efforts of volunteers - from Ron Leger, who has raised more than $9,500 through the creation of a virtual store, and Tom and Beth Dionne, who have raised $31,000 through their innovative Friends Project - have also played a pivotal role in the organization's growth, said Ms. Foley. "We are just blown away by the creativity of people and what they can do," she said, noting that in fiscal 2007 volunteers gave 7,874 collective hours of service and raised $141,000 in donated materials and services. "It's really wonderful to see so many people here," Habitat President Bill Schieb told the crowd at the annual meeting. "You're the key to our success." |
