New Habitat warehouse ends materials storage problem

[June 15, 2011]  Changes are apparent at the home of Logan County's Habitat for Humanity, located in the 900 block of Woodlawn Road. Habitat invites the public to an open house on June 25 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Participants can view both the new Habitat warehouse adjacent to the Habitat produce stand and the Habitat Center, which formerly housed a Regions Bank satellite. Refreshments will be served.

Aside from its grants support, Habitat's biggest source of funding has come from the sale of produce and donated and salvaged building materials. Until recently, donated materials were stored in and sold from a garage located near Kickapoo Street. After the garage was sold, the materials were moved to a semitrailer parked in the 900 block of Woodlawn Road. Soon the trailer overflowed, making access difficult.

To solve the storage problem, the Habitat board decided to build a new warehouse, using funds provided by the sale of the previous garage and lot, gifts designated for the warehouse, and receipts from the sale of donated and salvaged materials. Although the warehouse looks brand-new, approximately one-third of the materials used to construct it were donated, recycled or salvaged. It was built with donated skilled labor and the work of Habitat volunteers.

Just to the east of the new warehouse, the new Habitat Center occupies a building formerly used by Regions Bank as a satellite banking center. After the center was donated to Habitat, volunteers removed an interior wall in order to accommodate monthly Habitat board meetings. The building also allows Habitat to store all its files in a single location. Because of the generosity of the community and its volunteers, Habitat of Logan County finally has a home of its own.

Consistent with its new pledge to build three houses every two years, Habitat recently began construction of its 16th home. The new home is being built in partnership with Eric and Teresa Baker and is located at 1419 N. McLean St. in Lincoln.

Volunteers are essential to the construction of a Habitat home and they are welcomed on Fridays and Saturdays, usually from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is provided for the volunteers. Information about the construction can be found at www.hfhlogancounty.com under the "Build Schedule" tab.

Those who attend the June 25 open house will be able to purchase and sign two-by-fours that will go into the Baker home.

Raffle tickets for this year's Habitat playhouse fundraiser also will be available at the open house. A picture of last year's playhouse can be seen on the Habitat website under the "Event Calendar" tab. Raffle tickets will also be sold at the Logan County Fair, the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival, the Atlanta and Mount Pulaski fall festivals, and the Railsplitter Festival. The winning ticket will be drawn at the Railsplitter Festival.

[Text from file received]