Ornamental cause
Habitat for Humanity chapter offers fundraiser
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From staff reports
LEWISTOWN -- To meet the challenge of raising funds with limited human interaction due to the coronavirus, Mifflin County Habitat for Humanity volunteers have produced handmade, limited edition, numbered and dated Habitat House Ornaments, available for a suggested minimum donation of $20. The house ornaments are available at various locations as well as though the local Habitat website and by mail.
Like many organizations and businesses, Habitat for Humanity of Mifflin County has been challenged by how to engage in fundraising events for 2020 as a result of community health concerns. Despite this, Habitat is still hoping to begin construction on their next house in 2021, providing sufficient funds can be raised.
Displays of the ornaments have been placed at Ron's Fruit Market in Milroy, Michele's Restaurant in Reedsville, Burnham OIP, Wilson's Meats by Juniata Terrace and APM on Kish Pike, Lewistown. The organization's goal is to support families in the community needing safe, decent and affordable housing to break the cycle of poverty and build long-term financial security and while strengthening community ties.
One of four house designs will be released each year. Each year's design will incorporate the year as a house number near the front door. Each house ornament is uniquely hand painted by Habitat volunteers, in colors and with details created by each volunteer.
On the back, each ornament will have its own identification number, as is done with collectible artists' prints and a label indicating a donation was made to Habitat for Humanity of Mifflin County Inc. Production is limited to 100 ornaments each year, but for this first year, only Nos. 11 through 100 will be available for donations received -- the first 10 numbered ornaments are being set aside for the partner families residing in homes built by the local Habitat affiliate.
Donations can also be made via PayPal on the website http://mifflinhabitat.org/, after which someone will contact you about pick-up or delivery of your ornament. You can also contact Habitat for Humanity of Mifflin County by mail at PO Box 1124, Lewistown, PA 17044, or contact Lori Henry at (717) 994-1652 for more information.
Habitat is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry which seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. It was founded in 1976 by Millard Fuller, along with his wife, Linda.
Locally, Habitat of Mifflin County has built 10 homes since it was formally incorporated in January 2000. Of those 10, three families have paid off their interest-free mortgages, and seven are making regular monthly payments which are then used to help build the next Habitat house in Mifflin County. On each build, about 150 volunteers have been involved in the construction, including the "partner family" who later lives in the home, service groups, men's groups, youth groups, and people serving community service. Partner families who are chosen for a Habitat house must meet certain qualifications and pass certain screenings, as well as contribute in specified ways to the progress of their home.