Volunteers needed to help construct Habitat home

Volunteers are needed to help with the Habitat for Humanity build in Georgetown set for later this year and families are being invited to apply for one of three homes to be built next year. Deanna Smuk, volunteer co-ordinator with Habitat for Humanity Halton (HFHH), said all kinds of volunteers are needed to help with the Dayfoot Dr. project, set to get underway when ground is broken in mid to late April. The house will be built on a 50 ft. x 106 ft. lot at 50 Dayfoot Dr. and the name of the family who will partner with HFHH and own the home has not yet been released. Smuk said the non-profit organization, which has already built two homes in Burlington and one in Acton, needs people to help out as building volunteers, provide food and beverages to the volunteer builders, and from companies who can provide gifts in kind such as doors and windows. She said HFHH is in the process of setting up a build committee in Georgetown to oversee this and future builds in town. That committee would consist of members from six different committees-- volunteer liaison, food and beverage, gifts in kind, general fund development, and site supervisor and project manager. The team leader from each of those committees would serve on the build committee. Volunteers are needed in all of those areas. "The response from Georgetown, Acton and Milton has just been overwhelming," said Smuk. "It's been absolutely wonderful." Potential volunteers are encouraged to attend an HFHH information session/community meeting at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) at Salvation Army Georgetown Community Church, 271 Mountainview Rd. Information sessions for low-income families interested in applying to partner with the organization and become a HFHH homeowner for three Georgetown homes in 2007 will be held tonight (Wednesday), 7 p.m. at St. John's United Church, 11 Guelph St., and Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m. at St. Andrew's United Church at 89 Mountainview Rd. S. "The selected families will partner with Habitat to help build the house," said Kathrin Delutis, HFHH executive director. "Families will purchase the house from Habitat after completing 500 hours of sweat equity and repay a long-term zero interest mortgage." Potential families must pre-register for the session by calling 1-866-314-4344. For more information on HFHH visit www.habitathalton.ca. (Lisa Tallyn can be reached at ltallyn@independentfreepress.com)