In order to better serve residents of Morrow County, Habitat for Humanity of Morrow and Marion County have joined forces.
The collaborative effort, now titled Buckeye Ridge Habitat for Humanity, has begun work on its newest Morrow County project in Mount Gilead, breaking ground March 29.
The new home is set to go to a Mount Gilead single mother whose child was born with a debilitating case of spina bifida, which will soon confine her to a wheelchair.
“The house will be completely handicap accessible,” Community Engagement Coordinator of Buckeye Ridge Beth Hartzler said. “It’s exciting to see everything coming together.”
She believes Buckeye Ridge to be a positive partner for the community. The organization aims to put new homeowners throughout Morrow County.
“We try to keep everything local,” Hartzler said. “From contracting to volunteer work, we want to keep everything in the area.”
Previously, the Habitat of Humanity of Morrow County was a volunteer run organization and the administrative work was becoming too burdensome for volunteers in the area stated Executive Director of Buckeye Ridge Lynn Zucker.
She and her staff will now handle administrative duties in hopes to extend the organization’s effectiveness in the county.
The Mount Gilead project will be the 15th house built in Morrow County by Habitat for Humanity. It is set to be constructed at the corner of Marion and Cherry Streets and will be the second Habitat built home on the block.
Construction is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2016. As for future ventures, Buckeye Ridge hopes to work Morrow County to reclaim properties that could be used for new home construction or current property renovation.
For homeowners to qualify for a house constructed by Habitat for Humanity, they must meet certain standards set by the nonprofit. New homeowners must have the ability to repay, the need for a home and the willingness to to provide 250 hours of sweat equity labor on the home.
