Springfield Habitat for Humanity needs help--wants to move in four families by Christmas

November 30, 2011|by Jay Scherder | jscherder@ky3.com

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-- One local habitat for humanity is "Hammering for the Holidays" and they need your help. The Springfield chapter is hoping to move four families into four new homes by christmas.

For the past 23 years, Habitat Springfield has built more than 150 homes--providing shelter for more than 600 men, women and children in the Greene County area. As always they need volunteers to continue their mission.

Lately when you hear about volunteer house building projects, the focus turns to Joplin.

"We had volunteers from our organization out at Joplin," said Springfield Habitat of Humanity Director Linda Stewart.

But the need for affordable housing is still prevalent in the Queen City. "It will eventually be six homes. We've started four of them just since last summer," Stewart.

Out at Habitat for Humanity's Builder's Circle Project, volunteers are hard at work. "They're laughing all day long and having fun," said Construction Director Mark Murphy. "That's what we like to do is have fun."

"Our hopes on this project is to have these families in by Christmas," said Stewart. In order to do that Habitat needs more help. "Just come out and be a part of it. We'll provide construction leadership," said Stewart, "we'll provide the materials and have things organized."

"Don't be afraid to come out and get a little paint on your clothes," said Murphy, "we need help." No construction experience is necessary. "We enjoy people that are new to construction out here. I enjoy teaching," said Murphy.

They hope people will volunteer half a day, a whole day or even a week. They will work side by side with not only other volunteers, but the families themselves.

"They've put in sweat equity. They actually buy the homes that have been built and they pay us back at zero interest for 20 years," said Stewart.

If you are worried you will mess something up, Murphy says worry not. "Everything is fixable. So if they do mess up, it's no big deal. We can fix it."

Weekends are pretty popular with volunteers, but what they really need right now are volunteers during the week. Of course, any and all help is welcome. If you'd like to help, you can call 829-4001.

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