Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity to dedicate 25th home
Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity volunteers in front of the house at 800 Sherwood Downs Drive in Granite Shoals that they have been working since March 2022. It is expected to be finished by Sunday, Feb. 26. Photo courtesy of David Waldo
Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity is dedicating its 25th completed home in an open ceremony at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at 800 Sherwood Downs Drive in Granite Shoals. The community is invited to attend to welcome Leticia Lopez and Jose Quintanilla into their new home.
Dozens of volunteers have been working on homes at 800 and 804 Sherwood Downs since March 2022. The home at the 804 address was recently completed and dedicated to the Villalobos family in December.
The short celebration recognizing the volunteers and the host family for their work on the second house next door will be accompanied by light refreshments and property tours. Those who attend are encouraged to bring non-perishable foods to help fill the home’s pantry.
“Every area needs this at some level,” David Waldo, Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity materials coordinator, told DailyTrib.com. “This is not a handout; this is a hand up.”
Habitat for Humanity partners with families in need to build affordable housing. The receiving family contributes 150 hours of labor toward building their own home and 150 hours of labor toward someone else’s. They also incur a fixed-rate mortgage that is carried by Habitat for Humanity.
The Granite Shoals homes on Sherwood Downs were built by a core group of about 10 volunteers called “The Crew” and a rotating cast of others who helped whenever they had time, Waldo said. Much of the materials and services were donated for free or significantly discounted by local businesses to keep down costs.
Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity owns six total lots around the freshly built Sherwood Downs homes and plans to build three more nearby. As of now, it is seeking any sort of financial assistance to get these projects off the ground.
To learn more about donating to the cause or volunteering your time, visit the organization’s website or email hlhabitat@gmail.com.