The nugget., September 21, 2016, Page 25, Image 25

Wednesday, September 21, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
HABITAT: Events marked
25th anniversary of
organization in Sisters
Continued from page 1
Habitat had a lot going
on for their 25th anniversary
celebration, with two ground-
breakings happening together.
“We normally don’t build
two homes at the same time,
but our second groundbreak-
ing for Marla Brinkman, we
are partnering with Heart of
Oregon. And with the help of
one of their programs, Youth
Build, some of the younger
kids will get to help build,”
Habitat construction manager
Darleene Snider said.
Although Snider will be
the general contractor, they
are bringing in Heart of
Oregon’s construction man-
ager James Collins to help.
“Heart of Oregon is a non-
profit that has been around
for about 15 years, and our
mission is to offer the oppor-
tunity for the youth to have an
education through work expe-
rience,” Collins said.
photo by Jerry baldock
Habitat For Humanity and Sharyn Benson break ground for her new home
at 373 N. Desert rose loop.
Each year Heart of Oregon
provides job-skills training,
education, and leadership
development to over 300
local young people who face
major barriers to success.
Habitat’s very first inter-
national volunteer, Clive
Rainey, flew in all the way
from Guatemala to take part
in the celebration.
Rainey hooked up with
Habitat in 1977 soon after
the organization was formed
as its first volunteer. It was
Rainey who brought the
concept of “Sweat Equity”
to Habitat after learning that
developers of middle-class
housing sometimes used a
family’s unskilled labor on
their house in lieu of a down-
payment. Today, sweat equity
is a key part of every Habitat
build in 80 countries.
The dedication for Selah
Broderick’s Habitat home
was a heartwarming experi-
ence for everyone.
“My home has been built
by volunteers, including me.
It’s taken me two years to
complete the program. I got
to be part of the community
that’s all working together
and I got to contribute. It’s
been amazing,” Broderick
said.
The opening prayer
began with Sana Hayes read-
ing a poem, a blessing for
Broderick’s new home, fol-
lowed by some words from
25
photo by Jerry baldock
Selah Broderick enthusiastically cuts the ribbon and celebrates her new
Habitat for Humanity home at 412 N. Desert rose loop.
Habitat’s Executive Director
Sharlene Weed.
“How did we get to
this day with 160 families’
lives positively affected by
Sisters Habitat? By working
together, building and raising
funds — and lots of prayers,”
Weed told the crowd that
gathered around Broderick’s
brand-new home.
“In just the past year, over
250 volunteers worked over
19,000 hours on the houses,
in the stores, and on the board
and committees. And nearly
3,000 volunteer hours were
put in on this house alone.
Habitat works!”
Rainey
blessed
Broderick’s home with a
scripture from the Bible.
... nearly 3,000
volunteer hours were put
in on this house alone.
Habitat works!
— Sharlene Weed
The celebration followed
with a free fundraising din-
ner at FivePine Conference
Center featuring Clive Rainey
as the special guest speaker.