Members of Habitat for Humanity of Paulding County are inviting the public to come to Oakwood on June 16, at 5:00 p.m. to the Open house of our brand new Habitat House. The new home is on Third Street on the east side of the Oakwood Elementary School. The new owners will be there to welcome you as well as members of Habitat. This is the eighth home to be built since the beginning of Habitat in Paulding County in early 2000. We have Habitat homes in Antwerp, Paulding, Haviland, and Melrose. Habitat for Humanity was the inspiration of Mr. and Mrs. Millard Fillmore and over the years Habitat Homes have been built all over the world Habitat homes are not given to the home owners. They are expected to put in numerous sweat equity hours, not only for their new home but also for future families who will be getting a new Home from Habitat. They attend classes on how to manage money and how to be responsible for a new home. They have a mortgage to pay which is held by the Habitat Committee. The family chooses everything about the house from the floor plan to the color on the walls. This is to be their home for a long time and we want them to be happy. As soon as they officially become the home owner, they are responsible for everything that comes with the house. Our local Habitat is funded by the home owners, who pay their monthly mortgages and by donations and fund raisers. For the last several years we have had the Hog Run/walk at the Fairground in October. Please watch for the coming announcement of this year’s event. At the monthly meeting members are asked to tithe and this money is then sent in to Habitat International. We are thus doing our part to build homes for other families. Plans are already under way for home number nine. Who knows, it could be in your neighborhood. Building nice homes for families is our goal. The committee always takes into consideration if there is a septic system already in place and running water. Building in town is much more feasible since these two important requirements are already in place and can be easily tapped into. But we have built homes on property that the family already owns. Another benefit to the family is to have the property donated to Habitat. This helps to keep the mortgage payment at a reasonable amount. Habitat board meets the last Monday of the month at the office of the Paulding United Methodist church at 4:45. Visitors are always welcome. Please join us at the Open House June 16th, 5:00 p.m.
