Habitat for Humanity needs Queens County volunteers

Habitat for Humanity HRM (South Shore Chapter) public relations officer, Hank Middleton says, “We have the infrastructure in place, we have some funding but we need some bodies. We can target a community but the community has to jump on board with us.”

As he stated in the past, no one from Queens County has volunteered to serve on the chapter’s board, although the next “build” to bring the dream of home ownership to a family is slated for the Liverpool area.

In fact, he says, this is the only issue, as it appears a parcel of land will be donated to the organization. An announcement is expected soon.

Middleton says, “In my estimation we need to have at least six people from Queens County.” He says these people would network with the community, the municipality and the business community as well.

The Liverpool build is slated to begin in the spring of 2009, but only if the community joins the effort.

A public information session is scheduled to begin 6:30 p.m. April 9 at the Liverpool Lions Club in Liverpool. The input session begins at about 7 p.m.

Habitat for Humanity largely uses donations of money, materials and volunteer sweat to build homes inexpensively. The homeowners, as chosen by the chapter, pay a zero interest mortgage to the organization on a vastly reduced principal that is channeled back into future builds.

The homeowners also must volunteer for the organization.

The chapter’s Bridgewater build is nearly complete. One of the last company groups, On-Line Support from Liverpool, helped March 28 with 17 sets of hands.

Middleton says, “The house will be built and the dedication will take place 2 p.m. on April 26.”

A “Mom, Dad and three children” will then move into the three-bedroom bungalow, Middleton says. They will be at the 2 p.m. dedication.

“They’re very excited. I’ve worked side by side with the gentleman. This family is living in a very small apartment, with the three boys in one room and the parents in another. It will really simply life.”

He continued. “We had a lot of support, a lot of contractors that donated time and materials and a lot of church and community support. We’re quite happy with the way it went.”

He adds with a laugh, however. “We are determined we will not do this again in the winter.”

He says the area’s local Flight Engineers provided much expertise as well.

They also need a site manager for the Liverpool build and many people who can’t pound a nail don’t realize how much they have to offer, he says.

“I’m a retired teacher and administrator. My building skills are at the bottom of the barrel but I did a lot of PR for the schools.”

He also later discovered he was good at painting and detail work. Other examples of what is needed include administrative work, fundraising, a willingness to take first aid courses, ensuring correspondence reaches the membership and even digging, an effort that made Middleton personally realize he was “out of shape” at the time.

Of his work on the home, he says, “I really enjoyed it. There’s a certain amount of camaraderie around when you’re building a house and you can see in two or three days what you have helped do.”

An Acadian Kitchen Party, a fundraiser featuring Acadian and Maritime music in English and French as well as a buffet of Acadian food and bar service, is being held 3-7 p.m. April 20 at St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, Queens St, Bridgewater.

The free-will-offering event includes Acadian performer, Yvette d’Entremont, Sweet Harmony, Cajun Zydeco Blues Band, and many more performers. Story telling, a song circle and mini-concerts will be featured.

Middleton’s telephone number is 521-5177. All information, including details about applying for a home, is available at habitatsouthshore.ca.