Habitat dedicates home in Greene
GREENE – “Yes they will know us!” These are some of the hymn lyrics sung in celebration on Saturday for the new homeowners at 7 Mill St. Chenango County Habitat for Humanity (CCHH) officers and representatives, volunteers, friends and special guests gathered for this dedication.
The event was hosted by CCHH Past President, Bob Davis. In the Habitat for Humanity tradition, there was a Bible and house keys presentation to the new homeowners, volunteers were honored; a house blessing was given by Pastor William Zaremba; and there was a house tour and refreshments.
This house, at 7 Mill Street, is the fourth CCHH completed house. It was constructed for and with Larry and Christine Dunlap, the partnering family, and volunteer hours of help from over 94 people. This house, the fastest CCHH house ever to be built, represented ten months of work, which included 350 hours of “sweat equity” invested by the Dunlaps themselves.
The house tour revealed some surprises. Because of the children’s special needs, some unique house design considerations were added. A therapy room was included with a swing and a colorful exercise mat. A permanently sunny sky, with beautiful puffy clouds were painted on the walls by Mary Lake. A lush green wooded mural was painted by Michele Wells on the walls of a bedroom creating a fantasy retreat.
Many of the area clergymen came to speak about the wonderful spirit of giving and offer thanks. The ceremony began with an Opening Prayer by Father Ralph Osborne from the Zion Episcopal Church. Then Elder Gary Estabrook of the Berean Bible Church read scripture. This was followed by the group singing of the well-known hymn, “They Will Know That We Are Christian by Our Love.” The Clown Ministry United Methodist Church, represented by Elaine Gates and Hannah Ayers performed as mimes to music.
Pastor Curtis Whitman, of the United Church of Christ First Congregational, spoke about celebrating the individuals who helped Habitat, who were willing to make great sacrifices of time, energy, and resources or “mountain moving faith.” Pastor Whitman said, “We are gathered here as a faith community to build a home.”
Bob Davis honored the people who gave the greatest number of volunteer hours and they were presented with special Habitat t-shirts. Sam Gainfort volunteered an incredible 243 hours. Other volunteers who gave over 100 hours of their time were Patty Washburn, the Volunteer Project Coordinator; Donna Bickford (Family Partner); David Wright; George Estey; Tom Murray; Noreen Monahan; and Mark Stark. The Dunlap family was also given shirts for their 350 volunteer hours.
The keys to their new home and a Bible, given by Mt. Upton UMC, was handed to Christine (as Larry was unable to attend). After a formal house blessing, Pastor Zaremba’s held a special water ceremony for the Dunlap children. As he humorously put it, “As Baptists, we believe in using a lot of water,” Kaitlyn and Collin Dunlap were provided with gigantic water soaker guns to bless the house with. It was a wonderful way for the kids to participate.
The Closing Prayer was given by Father Ralph Osborne of the Zion Episcopal Church and refreshments were served at the Central Baptist Church.
A fund raising raffle was held for a quilt made by Doris Graves. Bob Davis announced that they would be looking for volunteers once again as Chenango County Habitat for Humanity is gearing up for its next house project. If you would like to be a part of the next CCHH house construction, can contribute any time or materials, contact Marjory Clark at 764-8341.
For more information about CCHH, visit: http://habitat.chenango.org. Donations can be mailed to Marjory Clark at P.O. Box 68, Mt. Upton, NY 13809.
The event was hosted by CCHH Past President, Bob Davis. In the Habitat for Humanity tradition, there was a Bible and house keys presentation to the new homeowners, volunteers were honored; a house blessing was given by Pastor William Zaremba; and there was a house tour and refreshments.
This house, at 7 Mill Street, is the fourth CCHH completed house. It was constructed for and with Larry and Christine Dunlap, the partnering family, and volunteer hours of help from over 94 people. This house, the fastest CCHH house ever to be built, represented ten months of work, which included 350 hours of “sweat equity” invested by the Dunlaps themselves.
The house tour revealed some surprises. Because of the children’s special needs, some unique house design considerations were added. A therapy room was included with a swing and a colorful exercise mat. A permanently sunny sky, with beautiful puffy clouds were painted on the walls by Mary Lake. A lush green wooded mural was painted by Michele Wells on the walls of a bedroom creating a fantasy retreat.
Many of the area clergymen came to speak about the wonderful spirit of giving and offer thanks. The ceremony began with an Opening Prayer by Father Ralph Osborne from the Zion Episcopal Church. Then Elder Gary Estabrook of the Berean Bible Church read scripture. This was followed by the group singing of the well-known hymn, “They Will Know That We Are Christian by Our Love.” The Clown Ministry United Methodist Church, represented by Elaine Gates and Hannah Ayers performed as mimes to music.
Pastor Curtis Whitman, of the United Church of Christ First Congregational, spoke about celebrating the individuals who helped Habitat, who were willing to make great sacrifices of time, energy, and resources or “mountain moving faith.” Pastor Whitman said, “We are gathered here as a faith community to build a home.”
Bob Davis honored the people who gave the greatest number of volunteer hours and they were presented with special Habitat t-shirts. Sam Gainfort volunteered an incredible 243 hours. Other volunteers who gave over 100 hours of their time were Patty Washburn, the Volunteer Project Coordinator; Donna Bickford (Family Partner); David Wright; George Estey; Tom Murray; Noreen Monahan; and Mark Stark. The Dunlap family was also given shirts for their 350 volunteer hours.
The keys to their new home and a Bible, given by Mt. Upton UMC, was handed to Christine (as Larry was unable to attend). After a formal house blessing, Pastor Zaremba’s held a special water ceremony for the Dunlap children. As he humorously put it, “As Baptists, we believe in using a lot of water,” Kaitlyn and Collin Dunlap were provided with gigantic water soaker guns to bless the house with. It was a wonderful way for the kids to participate.
The Closing Prayer was given by Father Ralph Osborne of the Zion Episcopal Church and refreshments were served at the Central Baptist Church.
A fund raising raffle was held for a quilt made by Doris Graves. Bob Davis announced that they would be looking for volunteers once again as Chenango County Habitat for Humanity is gearing up for its next house project. If you would like to be a part of the next CCHH house construction, can contribute any time or materials, contact Marjory Clark at 764-8341.
For more information about CCHH, visit: http://habitat.chenango.org. Donations can be mailed to Marjory Clark at P.O. Box 68, Mt. Upton, NY 13809.
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks