Hands, hammers, hearts build homes for families

Habitat for Humanity volunteers take part in community build

BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer

BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

 Brian Gill of Locust and Dean Margarites of Matawan Brian Gill of Locust and Dean Margarites of Matawan EATONTOWN — It only takes a few hours of hands-on work and an open heart to help Habitat for Humanity of Long Branch make a difference.

And that is just what hundreds of volunteers have been doing in the parking lot of Monmouth Mall in Eatontown in a two-week “community build” to construct wall panels for affordable Habitat homes.

“When I heard about the project, I just thought it was a great way of building local team spirit,” said volunteer Lorri DeBernardis, from Resource Real Estate in Rumson, while working on the project Friday.

DeBernardis, who participated in a Long Branch Habitat build last fall and several other projects sponsored by Habitat for Humanity in other states, added, “I wanted to be a part of something that goes to a good cause.”

Habitat for Humanity, an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, began the build on May 1 and at the conclusion of the project on May 13, Habitat board member Jim Doran said the wall panels for six Habitat homes will have been constructed.

Frank Bridge of Ocean GroveFrank Bridge of Ocean Grove One of the framed structures constructed during the project will be used for a Habitat home on Bank Street in Red Bank. The other five structures will be used for homes in Trenton, Doran said.

The purpose of the community build is to increase awareness about the need for decent affordable housing and about the role that Habitat plays in helping meet that need, according to a press release from Habitat for Humanity’s Long Branch chapter.

Over 240 volunteers signed up for the project, including volunteers from local businesses and “just some regular workers who like to volunteer,” Doran said.

At the site, volunteers work three-hour shifts, with up to 16 people on a single shift, to construct the exterior and interior wall panels for the six homes, Habitat of Long Branch President Dave Gibbons said in an interview Monday.

Corporations that participate in the build are required to make a financial contribution of at least $2,500 and other interested individuals must contribute at least $100 for each three-hour shift worked. The money is applied to the cost of the materials for each given project, Gibbons said.

Pat McKenna of Red BankPat McKenna of Red Bank The shifts at the Monmouth Mall project run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

“This is just a great opportunity for everyone,” said Nancy Doran, Jim’s wife. She has sat on the Habitat of Long Branch board for five year.

“Everyone who is here is here for the same reason,” she said.

Jim Doran, who has been on the board for two years, said, “When I retired I got started with Habitat. I just wanted to hammer nails and give back in a way that feels good.”

Nancy added that Habitat hopes to raise $80,000 during the course of the two-week project.

A previous project Habitat of Long Branch participated in was in 2004 when six volunteers traveled to Mexico and joined over 2,000 other volunteers in building 75 homes in one week for a development in Veracruz.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Brian Gill and Dean Margarites help Habitat for Humanity of Long Branch during a two-week "community build," to construct prefabricated exterior wall panels for multiple homes in the parking lot of Monmouth Mall on May 2.PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Brian Gill and Dean Margarites help Habitat for Humanity of Long Branch during a two-week “community build,” to construct prefabricated exterior wall panels for multiple homes in the parking lot of Monmouth Mall on May 2. This latest project is taking place at Monmouth Mall which is a sponsor of the community build.

“I just could not think of anything better to be associated with,” said Carole Cufone, marketing director for the mall. “It is really a great event. Our role in this is to be the host and we supply the space.”

Jim Doran said although Habitat has no problem recruiting volunteers and raising the needed funds for each project, finding land has become a real issue.

“What we need is land,” Doran said. “After we finish the Red Bank house, we have no more land. We are doing this work for Trenton to keep our volunteers active.”

Once the construction of the panels is completed for the Red Bank house, the structure will be transported to the site and Habitat volunteers will begin working on the house at the end of the month, according to Doran.

He added that he expects the home to be completed by the fall.

Doran explained that Habitat homes are made available to families who meet criteria including: four family members must live in a single home, families must be residing in subsidized housing and families must have a combined yearly income between $25,000 and $37,500.

Gibbons said, “When we get a house built, we charge the new homeowner our out-of-pocket costs for the materials used to construct the home and that becomes the cost of the house to them. We charge nothing for the labor.”

“[Habitat] finances their mortgage with a 30-year, no-interest mortgage,” Gibbons said. “The cost for the homes usually runs around $80,000. It is very satisfying when you see what having a home means to a low-income family.”

Once families acquire a Habitat home, those families with two parents must then return 450 hours of what Habitat calls “sweat equity” during which parents volunteer for Habitat projects.

Heads of single-parent families must return 350 hours of “sweat equity” to Habitat and then scout friends and family members to volunteer an additional 100 hours for Habitat projects.

For more information on Habitat or to become involved in a Habitat community build, call (732) 728-0441.

Habitat also offers a program for the community called Habitat Demolition Sales, where homes are donated to Habitat before they are bulldozed to clear the way for another project.

“When we know that someone is building a new home on a lot with an existing building already there, we orchestrate a sale,” DeBernardis said.

“The house is then donated to us and we have a yard sale before everything gets knocked down. We sell anything from windows, textiles and kitchen cabinets, to heating units and even shrubs. If the home is being knocked down on a Monday, we will hold the sale on the Saturday before,” he said.

For more information on the demolition sale or to donate a home to Habitat for Humanity before a demolition, e-mail [email protected].