Special to Dorchester Banner/Tim Poly
Staff from Hurlock Elementary School are showing their support for affordable homeownership by volunteering to help Habitat Choptank build its first home in Hurlock. Back row, from left: Linda Wilson, Joyce Wise, Kim Crismond, Patty O’Neil, Tynita Fletcher, a future Habitat homebuyer, and Dawn Corkran. Kneeling: Jill Baker, Cindy Collins and Amy Stoops
[/caption] HURLOCK — With help from volunteers like the team from the Hurlock Elementary School, a local homebuyer will be able to purchase a home in Hurlock with an affordable mortgage through Habitat for Humanity Choptank. Employees from the school recently spent a Saturday morning with hard hats and hammers at the Charles Street build site. Earlier this year when Habitat Choptank announced its program expansion into Hurlock, school staff pledged to volunteer regularly in construction, a commitment to the community that they have continued to honor during the summer months. Ground was broken this past April on the Hurlock home which is one of eight builds Habitat Choptank currently has in progress between Dorchester and Talbot counties. Work on the Hurlock jobsite takes place every Tuesday and the first Saturday of each month under the supervision of Habitat Choptank’s construction staff. Tools are provided. Additional volunteers are needed in order to complete the house in early 2017. Volunteers may come out as individuals or in small groups of 4-8 people. “Our homes are built almost entirely by volunteers, both skilled and unskilled,” explains Wayne Suggs, Habitat Choptank’s director of construction. “Whether you are a contractor, an experienced do-it-yourselfer or have never picked up a hammer in your life, we can use your help.” All volunteers on the construction site must be at least 16 years of age or older. On a Habitat build site, there are many tasks that require only a willingness to learn and work with others. “The team for Hurlock Elementary has been fantastic.” Mr. Suggs notes. “They’re hard workers and have helped move the project along.” Construction volunteers help with most every aspect of the homebuilding process. School staff framed walls on their first work day and installed sheathing on their most recent Saturday shift. Additionally, they have had the opportunity to work side-by-side with a future Habitat homebuyer. Working together in this way, volunteers experience for themselves the joy created when Habitat homebuyers are able to realize their dream of homeownership. For information visit www.habitatchoptank.org or call 410-476-3204.