For many families owning a home is often just a dream. To say that Habitat for Humanity makes dreams come true, is true. But it is much more than that. It is a community of business people, vendors, tradesmen, landscapers, and oh yes, the most important element, volunteers.
On August 3, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place on Fairhaven Road, property donated to the Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity (BBAHH) by David and Jessica Nicolosi of Mattapoisett.
On hand to help celebrate what will be a build-out over the next several months were volunteers who have provided either sweat equity, construction expertise, donations, or financial support. Mattapoisett businesses that got on board to help included professional engineer Douglas Schneider and Village Signs. Others contributing their time or services are Eastern Bank, Cape Cod 5 Foundation, students of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, South Coast Creations, Simmons Concrete, Dry Zone Basement Systems, Grasso Electric, The Plumbers, Andrade Plumbing and Heating, KM Building, Little Harbor Builders, Sherman Briggs, and Shoreline Remodeling. The home will be the first to feature solar power. That equipment is being provided by Blue Wave LLC.
Kara Lees, President of the board for BBAHH introduced longtime board members whose involvement in many builds was noted. Those members were: Al Winters, George McTurk, Robin Ragle-Davis, Jack and Sandy Beck, George LeBlanc, Charles Beachamp, and Terry Guiney whose work with affiliated program Brush With Kindness was noted.
Executive Director Christine Lacourse said that over the next couple of weeks, site and foundation work will began with a planned build-out beginning in September. “We’ll work every weekend with about eight to ten volunteers.” Most projects are completed in about 45 to 60 days she said.
Representative William Straus said of the project, “This is an organization I really love.” He said that he had worked with the group during the Marion project and now in Mattapoisett, “When you need help, I’ll be there.”
Lacourse explained that families wishing to be considered as the future homeowners need to complete a volunteer form which includes a section for requesting inclusion in the lottery process. Those wanting to be considered as the chosen family must also volunteer she said.
Lees said that the Nicolosi Family didn’t “… necessarily believe in handouts, but did believe in a hand up.”
The program requires that applicants prove U.S. citizenship, degree of severity to establish need for shelter, ability to pay, willingness to partner, and be a resident of the service area. BBAHH covers the towns of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester, Wareham, and Westport.
For more information on volunteer opportunities, and the qualification process, you may visit www.buzzardsbayhabitat.org or call 508-758-4517.
By Marilou Newell
