Habitat for Humanity keeps building Warren County homes

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Habitat for Humanity is still busy building homes here in Warren County according to organization spokesperson Kay Ramsey. As usual, Habitat, an organization which builds homes for purchase by deserving low income families, has been able to pull upon the financial and volunteer services of local businesses to accomplish its goals. Volunteers from First National Bank were busy painting at one of the current projects on Old Morrison Road Saturday, and Ramsey said their efforts were much appreciated.

Habitat has built a number of such homes over the years.

“This is number 10,” Ramsey said of the Old Morrison Road home. “Number 11 is actually being built on Smith Street. They’re working over there today too, so we’re doing double duty.”

Ramsey said support from local business has been a vital part of the process.

“It’s been fantastic. This is the first time First National’s been here to help us and they brought a big crowd this morning,” Ramsey said. “We probably had 20 or more of them. We’ve finished painting all the walls and the trim is finished that we had to do.”

Ramsey said First National was also instrumental in getting a grant from the Cincinnati Federal Loan Bank that provided a total of around $27,000 including $10,000 on the current project and the balance on two homes from 2004.

“It has really helped us,” Ramsey said.

This home is being built for the Gehring family, including mom Denise, son Glenn, 13, and daughter Kelly, 17, who is wheelchair bound, which required that the home be handicap accessible.

“It’s one of the first ones we’ve had to do totally,” Ramsey said, “She’s really excited.”

Kelly’s younger brother Glenn is excited as well.

“It’s something I never thought would happen,” Glenn said. “I thought we’d be living where we are now for a lot longer than what we’ve been living there. But I’m just glad we’re getting a house.

“It’s big,” he added with a grin. And what would he like to say to the Habitat for Humanity organization?

“Thanks,” he said, “and I appreciate everything that they’ve done.”

PHOTO INFO:
First National Bank employees Vickie Mitchell and Dwayne Woods, front, and Habitat board member Norma King, back, get busy with the paint brushes and rollers in one of the current Habitat for Humanity projects while future resident Glenn Gehring, 13, looks on. (Charles W. Johnson photo)