From: The Press of Atlantic City

Volunteers begin building Habitat home in Millville
By EDWARD VAN EMBDEN Staff Writer, 856-649-2072
Published: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
 

MILLVILLE - Standing in front of a house they came down from Vermont to build, brother and sister team Jackie Pierce and Mark Gilbert take a break from construction to discuss siding. The pair, along with more than 50 other volunteers from White River Junction, Vt., and Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity, officially broke ground on a new home Monday.

This is the third house the Vermont-based St. Anthony Peer Ministry has worked on in Millville. The other two, which were dedicated in 2005 and earlier this year, are located right next door.

"Basically, we think everybody should have their own home," Pierce said. "Everyone deserves their own home."

Gilbert said Pierce is the one who orchestrates these operations, who gets everyone involved and together in building these homes. He's the building site coordinator.
Together, and with the help of an ever expanding group of teenagers - Pierce said most of the volunteers are in high school - they've got six years and eight homes built under their belt.
In addition to subscribing to the Habitat for Humanity philosophy, Gilbert said there's a focus on teaching children the importance of working together to help the community. It just so happens, he said, it's also something they enjoy.

"We tell kids that this is about working hard, but they're already committed," he said. "They don't stop working hard until the project is done."

Early Monday morning, the building site was little more than a concrete slab. By midafternoon, the volunteers had erected parts of all four walls and were already starting to attach siding.

Victoria Groetsch, executive director of Cumberland County Habitat for Humanity, said by Friday the house, from the exterior at least, will look complete. A roof will be put on, shingles attached, the siding will be complete, and doors and windows attached. What remains after that point, she said, are specialized jobs like electric and plumbing, among others.

The house is located on Garfield Street in south Millville. In addition to the two other Habitat-built houses on the street, Groetsch said there are plans for five more, all in the same area.

This house will go to a family of seven who have been waiting for a long time, she said.

But it's not just about providing a home, Groetsch said, but providing a neighborhood, too.

On this small street, which will eventually be dominated by Habitat homes, there's a neighborhood being built from the ground up.

"A lot of times, Habitat for Humanity is poo-pooed. People say you're trying to give families a home and you put them in a crappy neighborhood," she said. "We said why not put them in their own community?"

To e-mail Edward Van Embden at The Press:

evan embden@pressofac.com
 

 Under Construction. . . Stop Back!