Habitat dedicates two homes
By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.comArticle Photos
Fact Box
How to help
Volunteer to help with construction.
Donate (cash, property or needed building supplies).
Offer clerical or office help.
On the Net: www.wchfh.com
Phone: 373-9764.
It took about three years from the start of site preparation to the recent fitting of the last door and lock, but two area families are now settling into their new homes thanks to help from Washington County Habitat for Humanity.
The homes are located adjacent to one another at 1200 Cisler Drive in Marietta and were dedicated Sunday.
Dennis Thomas, director of the local Habitat group, said this was the first time the group had attempted to tackle two homes at once.
"We thought it might go faster this way, but it ended up taking as long, if not longer, than if we would have focused on one and then the other," he said. "We usually try to finish one home a year."
The homeowners and a group of about 20 volunteers helped complete the homes. One of the homes is a modular and was framed by students at Washington County Career Center. Volunteers prepared the foundation and then did all plumbing, electrical and finish work inside.
The other home was built from the ground up.
Habitat partner families are required to put in at least 300 hours of work on the construction of their homes. They also must repay their mortgage, which is a 20-year, zero percent loan. Selection of families is based on need, ability to commit to the work and repay the loan.
"We want these homes to be a blessing, not a burden," Thomas said.
The first of the homes went to Aaron and Beth Oliver and their three children, ages 8, 11 and 14. The second home is owned by Roger McBride and Sarita Roseberry and their three children.
For the Oliver family, the new house means no more sharing rooms in a crowded and flood-damage mobile home.
"It was a home, but it wasn't," Aaron Oliver said. "We went though the first flood (September 2004) and repaired and rebuilt only to have it flood again a few months later. We fixed it again, but it was never right. We were having all kinds of problems."
After seeking assistance after one of the floods, a Red Cross official suggested the family apply to Habitat for Humanity.
"We applied, but never dreamed we would be standing here today," he said.
Beth Oliver said the entire family worked long hours alongside volunteers to finish the home.
"I like knowing that if anything ever goes wrong we should be able to fix it because we put it together," she said.
For the McBride family, the new house affords them the space they needed.
"We were living in Lowell in a small place," Roger McBride said. "The kids were sharing rooms - and boys and girls can't share rooms too long before they need their own space."
Habitat history
There have been 17 homes built in the county since 1993, when the local Habitat group started. The largest cluster is nine Habitat homes in Woodcrest Heights, about four miles from Marietta off Ohio 26. That development is now complete.
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scout82
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08-24-09 9:58 PM
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Morninggirl, schools will always take volunteers, since you like office work... check at the board of education office.
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morninggirl
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08-24-09 4:35 PM
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What a wonderful thing!! Congratulations to the receipitents of the homes. Good Luck and take care of your homes!! I have been looking for an organization to volunteer with, I called and left a message for information regarding volunteering! I have 20+ years in the accounting/office field so if any of you readers have any suggestions, please respond here!!
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GOTOSCHOOL
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08-24-09 11:37 AM
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kudo's for all...congratulations!
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PWC032096
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08-24-09 8:55 AM
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I love to hear stories like this. A glimpse of hope in a world of negativity.
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