By Chuck Stewart, Jr.
(Newburgh) - On Saturday, January 20, friends and family gathered as Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh dedicated the Methodist Build house at 70 Benkard Avenue - home of the James family.
With the formal ceremony now only minutes from starting, the bitter cold weather of winter finally arrived. Members of the 11 participating churches of the Methodist Build arrived to find a sharp contrast inside to the weather outside. As they walked through the house, inspecting their collective hard work, they were warmed by the love that had transformed this once abandoned house into a warm, loving home.
They had done it!
Before Habitat took over, the house at 70 Benkard Avenue had been abandoned and neglected for years, with broken windows and cracked, mold-covered walls. But with the help of the hundreds of volunteers who worked tirelessly to rehabilitate this house, this home now has new walls, new energy-efficient windows, and a fresh coat of paint.
Outside, the James family arrives, eager to greet the many people who have made their dream of homeownership a reality. The excitement is building. A child will finally have the room they have always wanted. And a backyard big enough to have a puppy-if it’s okay. A kitchen big enough to cook a gourmet meal and a dinning room large enough to invite the entire family over during the holidays.
Everyone rushes inside, where the formal ceremony is about to start. This is where family advocates Martha Hasbrouck and Patricia Parker will reflect upon the family and friends who have been with the James family through the entire Habitat build process. This is where house captains Kenneth Mennerich and Marie Woods will formally present the James family with the keys to their new house. And this is where Habitat President Moacyr Calhelha will present the family with gifts from the community.
Yes, they had finally done it! With the Methodist build project done, Habitat has now completed 25 houses to date. But Habitat of Greater Newburgh’s work continues. They will continue to work to eliminate substandard housing by raising much needed funds for projects and recruiting volunteers to help in any way possible. If you would like to volunteer, make a donation or would like more information about Habitat, call them at 568-6035.
Habitat is currently accepting applications for partner families and will have its next intake session on Wednesday, January 31 at 6:30 PM at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Newburgh.
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