Community members in Dorchester and Talbot counties who are looking for ways to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others are invited to get acquainted with Habitat for Humanity Choptank. The nonprofit is hosting a volunteer recruitment event on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at its ReStore located at 8610 Commerce Drive in Easton.
“When people think about getting involved with Habitat, they generally think about our construction program,” says Nora Skiver, Habitat Choptank’s Volunteer Maryland Coordinator. Skiver, herself a volunteer, is completing a year of AmeriCorps service with the goal of engaging more volunteers in Habitat’s local mission.
“While home building is the most visible way people participate, there are a variety of ways that you can invest your time and talent into Habitat Choptank’s life changing work.” From volunteering in construction, helping at the ReStore, serving on a program committee, or lending a hand at the Habitat office, it all helps to make the dream of home ownership possible for more hardworking families.
“Habitat volunteers have a special place in my heart,” adds Skiver. She purchased her home from Habitat Choptank in 2014. “If you resolved to make a difference in this year, here’s your opportunity to get started.”
Information sessions will run on the hour starting at 10am to 2pm. Community members are invited to drop in during that timeframe. For folks who would like to learn more but cannot attend that Saturday, Habitat Choptank hosts monthly orientation sessions at its office in Trappe on a rotating schedule with both morning and afternoon sessions. That schedule is available on the organization’s website www.HabitatChoptank.org.
Habitat volunteers are men and women who come from all walks of life. Some bring with them existing skills to contribute in construction or helping with specific activities of the mission such as acquiring future properties for redevelopment or coaching home buyers through the home purchasing program. “For others, Habitat is a great way to develop new skills both on our build sites and assisting with the program,” Skiver notes.
This also applies to young people. Starting at age 15, students can volunteer at the ReStore, and at 16, they can join in on construction. “With signed permission from a parent or guardian, we can connect them with a hands-on way to build new skills and add something to their future resume.”
Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has empowered 75 households from Talbot and Dorchester counties to build the stability, security and self-reliance that comes from buying a home with monthly mortgage that they can afford. Each home buyer contributed 300-400 hours of “sweat equity” in the building of those houses. While selling its homes to mostly first time and even first generation home buyers, Habitat Choptank continues to maintain a less than 2% foreclosure rate with only one home foreclosed over the 25 year history. Currently, 12 buyers are working through Habitat’s multi-step program toward purchasing homes under construction in Cambridge, Hurlock and Easton. For information about home ownership, to volunteer with Habitat Choptank or to make a donation, visit www.habitatchoptank.org or call 410-476-3204.
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