The volunteers of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County are currently building Habitat’s 200th home for a local family. Construction began in the spring and Habitat’s Summer 2012 newsletter reports that completion is expected in 2013.
Habitat volunteers from local faith communities, and others, have been building homes for over a quarter of a century. When the home is ready for occupation there’s always a house blessing ceremony and the new home owners are given a Bible.
In the early days there was a house blessing celebration a couple times every year. “Today, Habitat blesses a home anywhere from 16 to 18 times a year,” the newsletter reports.
In Other Habitat News:
The Habitat ReStore West is now open at 5906 Odana Road. Customers were lined up at the door on opening day. It’s a great place to pick up new and recycled building materials and even appliances at discount prices, including cabinets, flooring, hardware, windows and wood furniture.
The Habitat ReStore West celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, September 22nd. Habitat ReStore East, at 208 Cottage Grove Road, will celebrate its 11th birthday on the same day.
Habitat has a new CEO, Valerie Johnson. Johnson comes to Habitat of Dane County from the Worldwide Foundation for the World Council of Credit Unions, where she was executive director. She is a graduate of the UW-Madison and replaces Perry Ecton, who has moved on to become executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Broward County, Florida.