Habitat House Dedication Set for June 19; Volunteers Still Needed for Finishing Touches
The Habitat for Humanity of South Hampton Roads/Old Dominion University house that has been under construction since last November in Lambert's Point will be dedicated at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.
The home, which has been built with the expertise of Habitat for Humanity and the help of hundreds of ODU volunteers, is located at 1522 W. 39th St., just south of the campus. It is being constructed for the LaShawn Jones family, who are excited to move in to their first residence as homeowners. They'll receive a "key" during the dedication ceremony on Saturday.
However, there are still plenty of jobs to be done to finish the home between now and Saturday, so volunteers are still needed.
Finishing touches, such as paint patching and the installation of shelving, blinds and towel racks, are being completed this week in time for the dedication.
Hundreds of volunteers kick-started the project during ODU Homecoming Week last fall, but the project has gone through its share of trials. The build received a major setback when the structure was damaged during the November nor'easter. And a winter's worth of unusually cold, snowy weather ate into the number of days that could be spent on the house.
But with the end in sight, Rick Massey, associate vice president for foundations and campus coordinator for the Habitat project at ODU, couldn't be prouder of the team's efforts.
Those interested in helping put the finishing touches on the project are asked to contact Massey at rmassey@odu.edu, though a formal application to volunteer also must be filled out through the Habitat for Humanity SHR website, www.shrhabitat.org.
Founded in 1988, Habitat SHR, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Its mission is to eliminate poverty housing and make decent housing a matter of conscience and action. Habitat provides no-profit, no-interest mortgages to qualified low-income families in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Isle of Wight County.
Contact Habitat SHR at 640-0590, or go to www.shrhabitat.org for more information, to volunteer services or to make a financial donation.