Habitat For Humanity Marks 20th Anniversary, Announces Projects
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Habitat For Humanity of Kosciusko County celebrated its 20th anniversary Friday night by holding a “Raising the Roof” celebration in Warsaw. The event was at the 2517 Restaurant, Warsaw. The dinner featured the founders of Habitat, homeowners and a surprise announcement. Lori Harman, Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County executive director, announced the organization will oversee a dual home build in Warsaw this summer. They will build two houses at once, side by side, on Market Street in Warsaw, on vacant land across from Dollar General. Since it’s vacant land, no addresses have been issued yet. Rebeca Spears will be the homeowner, along with her son, Carlos Cabrera. Cabrera is paralyzed from the chest down and is 31 years old. Habitat is in the process of reviewing applicants for the other home. The family pays a 25-year monthly mortgage on the actual cost to build the home at zero percent increase. Groundbreaking on the dual build will be July 24. Also during the dinner, Harman presented the Volunteer of the Year award to Sherm Yoder. In 2008, Habitat started a partnership with the Habitat ReStore in Goshen and Plymouth. Habitat is able to turn community members’ unwanted items or unused building materials into income through these partnerships. Instrumental in this operation is Habitat’s ReStore donation coordinator, Yoder. Yoder has worked faithfully and tirelessly over the past few years to pick up items, deliver items to the ReStores and even handle whole house deconstructs. Allyn Decker served as host for the evening. “For 20 years, Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County has been serving our community by partnering with those in need by providing homes, which provide changed lives for generations to come,” Decker said. In 1991 a group of people came together to establish a Habitat affiliate in Kosciusko County. “They saw that the needs of our community were great,” Decker said. Families were struggling to live in homes that were not fit for living, families were struggling to pay high rent for small apartments, children were struggling with health issues because of poor living condition, families that just needed someone to give them a hand-up. By 2001, they were up and running strong with their first-ever hired staffer, Harman, who marked her 10 years with the organization Friday night. In 2005, Habitat’s office was established on Center Street. With the presence of a central office, Habitat quickly became known in the community. Behind the scenes of a central headquarters and busy office are a dedicated group of volunteers that comprise Habitat’s Board of Directors, Decker said. Decker welcomed board members Evelyn Steffen, Adam Turner, Matt Boren, Lydia Yoder, Hal Harting, Dave Bickel and Susan Grill. Former board members also were recognized. Allyn introduced Harlan Steffen, who co-founded Habitat’s affiliate in 1991. Habitat homeowners Lisa Smith (2001), Marcie Anders (2004) and Brenda Cramer (2010) shared their experiences.
