Renee Knight (second from right) thanks her advocates Suzanne Dawes and Bonnie McCormick, for helping her through the process of getting a Habitat house as her children look on.
By Nancy Peckenham
On Sunday, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh passed the keys to a family who will take possession of the 50th house that the group has built in the city in the past ten years – a landmark for the organization that is comprised largely of volunteers.
While the Knight family was clearly excited about the prospect of moving into the two-story brick house on Courtney Street, the founders of the Habitat chapter appeared just as elated to see how the group has grown. Bill Murphy and Al Favata recalled how in 1999 they, along with Dave Wager, decided to create a chapter with the goal of building one to two houses a year. The response from other volunteers was tremendous and the group grew in leaps and bounds.
Volunteers Are the Backbone of Habitat
In the past decade, thousands of people have volunteered to work with Habitat. Bill Murphy recalled how Frederica Warner came up with the idea of a fundraising walk, now an annual institution. He also recognized volunteers from churches, colleges, high schools, realtors, labor unions, foundations and corporations that have pitched in. M&T Bank senior vice president Rob Brown also spoke about why his institution has chosen to donate $1.5 million to the organization over the past decade.
Al Favata, Bill Murphy and Board president Maureen Crush prepare to lead the crowd singing "If I Had A Hammer."
Volunteer Dave McTamaney got the crowd excited when he talked about the fun he’s had solving problems at each of the 50 builds that he has worked on. It was clear that volunteers have formed bonds of their own over the years, responding enthusiastically to McTamaney’s cry, “Let’s get dirty!.”
House Dedicated to Dierdre Glenn
The Courtney Street house was dedicated to Dierdre Glenn, the group’s first executive director who, in her low-key style, spoke only a few words at the ceremony. She praised the work of volunteers and partner families who are creating community while reclaiming rundown neighborhoods. “The commitment of people living in a neighborhood like this is community,” she said.
There are few places in the United States that are as distressed as parts of the city of Newburgh. According to the 2000 Census, it is the fourth most distressed area in the U.S. Some 300 people have been able to move into Habitat homes, but many more low-income families are in need of better housing and that need is pushing Habitat leaders, including new executive director Cathy Collins, to raise the bar, pledging to build 50 more houses in just five years.
Dierdre Glenn.
Partner Families Contribute Sweat Equity
The Knight family is typical of a Habitat partner family. Renee is a single mother and she had to donate 250 hours of sweat equity to be eligible for the program. Her oldest son, 18-year-old LaRon, a student at Newburgh Free Academy, also pitched in. Two-adult households are required to give 400 hours of work.
The family selection process is one of the most challenging – deciding who gets the next house available. On Sunday, one of those families in waiting sat in the backyard of the Courtney Street house. Eulalia Cadena, her husband, Carlos Gunera, and two young children, were accepted as a partner family in June. Carlos has nearly fulfilled his required service time, spent demolishing some interiors, putting up new walls and insulation in homes on Benkard Street. Now they have to wait for a house to become available for them so they can move from their four-room apartment on Renwick Street.
Habitat always welcomes volunteers and donors who want to make a difference in Newburgh. Construction skills are not a requirement – every volunteer has something to offer the group. For more information about how to volunteer or donate, visit www.habitatnewburgh.org.
Volunteers enjoyed food and community before the dedication of the 50th Habitat house in Newburgh.
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