Habitat for Humanity building funds to build a home

Blanche Long (left) signs her name to a 2x4 as Ellen Faulkner, volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, looks on. The 2x4 will be used in the construction of the first house built by Habitat for Humanity North Bay and Blue Sky Region.

The North Bay and Blue Sky Region Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is currently building up funds to support their first house in North Bay. Volunteer members are accepting donations Friday and Saturday at the North Gate Mall.

Ellen Faulkner, a HFH volunteer, explained they would be selling 2x4’s for $4 and 2x6’s for $6. For $5 you can sign your name to a 2x4 that will be used in the building of the house.

“Your autographed 2x4 will go into the building and you will be apart of that home,” Faulkner said.
Faulkner explained that the organization needs a total of $60,000 in order to build the house. All the money raised by selling the 2x4’s will go towards the house.

“I don’t know how much we will make. My goal was $5000 but I am reaching for the stars,” Faulkner said.

“I would like to raise $60,000 this weekend but we will do what we can,” she added.

Two hundred 2x4’s and 30 2x6’s in total were donated by Timber-Mart, Rona and Carry All Builders Supplies Ltd.
Faulkner says that the community support has been very good so far. With other donations and pledges HFH has already raised $25,000 for the house.

Blanche Long, a North Bay resident, stopped by the kiosk to make her donation and sign her name to a 2x4. The teary eyed woman was overjoyed saying that she knows what it’s like living in poverty.

“When I came to North Bay I had to live in poverty. I lived in places that were not fit to be rented to dogs so I understand how hard poverty is,” Long said with a tear in her eye.

“Taking care of those who aren’t as fortunate is what’s important. This world can be very, very hard to live in and when we do something like this and give our hearts to the projects we do, it just makes a real difference,” she added.

HFH is an international non-profit organization working in partnership with families in need to build homes for families in need. HFH was created in 1976 and today has affiliates all over the world. HFH North Bay and Blue Sky Region became the 71st affiliate in November 2006.

“I am proud to say that I am one of the six founding members of the HFH North Bay and Blue Sky Region. I have been in the office for a year and a half and to see the steps that we have followed to get to where we are is exciting,” Faulkner said.

“Once we start that build and see that building grow then the excitement will really be there.”

Faulkner explained that this house is only the beginning for HFH in North Bay and the Blue Sky Region. She said they HFH would like to see more houses built in the area in the future.

“Right now we need to get this house finished and then down the line we will see about doing town houses and condominiums. North Bay needs one hundred thousand low income homes so we can help with that,” Faulkner said.