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Highlands Today

Habitat Sees Surge In Volunteers

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By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: November 9, 2008

SEBRING - Over the past two and a half weeks, Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County has had a surge in new volunteers.

Thirty-seven new volunteers have come forward since stories in mid October on Habitat's drive to recruit 200 new volunteers by the end of March to take on its biggest project starting early next year.

"We've had 37 people who actually came in and signed up and they are already volunteering," said Nadia Hoffman, volunteer coordinator for Habitat. More people have called and inquired about volunteering, she said, and Habitat officials hope that will result in additional new volunteers.

Most of the new volunteers are year-round residents of Highlands County, Hoffman said, and that will help with the non-profit, faith-based organization's work, which goes up during the winter season but continues year round.

"People of all ages came in," Hoffman said. "About half are men and half are women, and we had ages anywhere from 18 or 19 and on up to retirees."

Due to the initial response to Habitat's new volunteer drive, she said, "we're very confident that we can reach our goal."

With 300 active volunteers, Habitat for Humanity of Highlands County has built 85 new homes over the past five years, an average of 17 per year.

Michael Jacobson, executive director of this non-profit, faith based organization, said about 200 additional volunteers will be needed to tackle Habitat's Ridgeview project, by far the most ambitious project in the 18 year history of the Highlands County Habitat chapter.

One hundred two-story townhouses will be built on 20 acres off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just south of Arbuckle Creek Road. Habitat's first community will feature extensive green space, trails, parks and playgrounds, and a community center, plus about 1.5 acres of community based retail.

Construction is expected to start in 2009 and could take two or three years, Jacobson said.

Hoffman said many of the new volunteers said they joined because they learned of Habitat's need and found out that they didn't need any particular skills in construction. Volunteers can be trained as construction helpers, she said, and there are many other roles, including office work, working in Habitat's Home Supply Store, and serving lunches to crews at work sites.

Jim Konkoly can be reached at 863-386-5855 or jkonkoly@highlandstoday.com

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