Recordpub.com - Portage Habitat to get a boost Maryland church group to build 3 homes in county

By Mike Sever
and Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writers
Habitat for Humanity of Portage County has been notified by the 2,300-member Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church of Severna Park, Md. that the Portage affiliate has been selected for the church's 2008 WoodsWork program.
WoodsWork is a nine-day, youth-planned, youth-led mission trip for high school students that partners with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for low-income families. The WoodsWork group will consist of about 125 students in grades 9-12 and 35 advisers.
Mary Shaffer, executive director of the Portage Habitat affiliate, said she and the rest of the affiliate board were thrilled at the news.
"This group started in 1986 with a small group of youth in church wanting to do this. They are now so large they are looking for habitat affiliates in the growing stage, like Portage," Shaffer said.
"They came to Portage in 2003, but we weren't ready for them. We weren't at that stage that we could say, "yes we have three houses ready to build.' Their concern is running out of work. They require at least three houses," to be ready to go, Shaffer said.
Portage Habitat, which is celebrating its 20th year, had planned to build three houses for 2008, including its 50th house ever.
"This is going to push us to five. This is going to be a real boost for us." Shaffer said.
"When they said they chose us, it was a real blessing, because they helped us stay within the time frame of the grant requirement," Shaffer said. Portage Habitat received a Community Development Block Grant to buy the lots in Atwater. The local affiliate will put in the utilities and foundations before WoodsWork arrives.
The group will be quartered at Ravenna High School.
Superintendent Tim Calfee said he is happy to facilitate the group.
He said Shaffer approached the school district with the request for the high school to house the Habitat group.
"We're glad to do it," Calfee said. "It's for a worthy cause and we're glad to support them."
In its one-week stay at the high school, the group will be confined to the bottom floor with access to the cafeteria, the small gym and the library for recreation.
Calfee said a smaller group of volunteers is coming April 4 to inspect the building sites and their accommodations. At that time, Calfee expects the group to agree on the food it will purchase from the district.
He said the group will have busy days, without much time for recreation.
"They've got full days. They'll start early and work late. In the evening, they can relax in the library.
"We're doing this for no charge," Calfee said. "It's good for the community " they're volunteering to help folks in our community."
According to WoodsWork spokesman, 16-year-old Andrew Wiley, the group brings its own volunteer chefs who will provide the meals for the group.
During its nine-day stay in Portage County the group is scheduled to complete the building of three house frames including structures, roofs, windows, siding, shingles and electric rough-in. The WoodsWork group will be followed by a second group of about 50 college students called Driftwood, whose mission is to install soffit, fascia and drywall.
Shaffer said seeing the groups in action is an amazing experience.
"It's like an ant swarm. One team puts up the walls and trusses and then moves to the second house while a second team takes over on the first house for siding and roof, and so on," she said.
The Portage County experience will be the 24th WoodsWork mission trip. Last year the group erected three houses in Iredell County, N.C.
Asked how Portage County Habitat was chosen for this year's trip, Wiley said, "Our staff researched many different Habitats and we decided on Portage County because they were very helpful when communicating and offer a great program that fits what we require."
The workers will be transported to Portage County in 14 large vans and two large trucks. The WoodsWork team will arrive in Portage County on June 26 and return to Maryland on July 4. While in Portage County the group will attend church on Sunday. When off the work site the youth engage in programs and small groups planned by the youth-led WoodsWork planning committee. On Wednesdays the group is given a day off for recreation to enjoy the area's attractions.
"We are very excited about being chosen for this year's WoodsWork field trip," Shaffer said. "To have three houses erected in nine days is a big shot in the arm for our housing ministry. Because of this support, in addition to a Ravenna renovation project now under construction, we will build four new houses in 2008 at our Atwater subdivision. We feel truly blessed by this development. I don't know if anything like this has taken place in Portage County. It is a miracle. We see this experience as a way to call on our Covenant Churches to lend a hand with local arrangements."