44th Home
George Sims
PARKERSBURG - Wood County Habitat for Humanity held a dedication ceremony Sunday afternoon for the organization's 44th home in the past 18 years and work is already under way on the next.
The two-bedroom home, located at the corner of Camden and Victoria avenues in south Parkersburg, was presented to George Sims, who will be joined by his 6-year-old daughter, Savannah, when she is in his care.
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ministry that builds or renovates homes with lower-income families who are currently living in substandard housing. Wood County Habitat for Humanity was started in 1991.
Alvin Phillips, executive director of Wood County Habitat, said Sunday's dedication was the second Habitat home completed in Wood County so far this year. The most recent dedication was in February.
"Since Habitat's a Christian ministry it's really important to us to have a house blessing and we always present a Bible to the family that is buying the house from us," he said of Sunday's dedication.
Phillips said the house was started over a year ago, but worked stopped at one point after a previous family withdrew from the Habitat program. The local Habitat agency was looking for the right size of family for the home - and went on to complete two other homes in the meantime - when Sims applied earlier this year and was accepted in January.
As part of the Habitat program, participating families help in the construction of their and other homes. Due to some physical problems, Phillips said Sims was not able to help in the actual construction of the home but worked out his "sweat equity" in other ways, including helping with administrative work in the Habitat office. He was often at the site to greet volunteers and give encouragement, Phillips said.
"I think it will be a great place for him and also meet some of his future needs," he said.
"I think it's awesome," Sims said Sunday as he greeted people in his new home. "It's an awesome program. The people that are involved in this from my church (Grand Central Church of Christ) are really supportive. If it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't have tried."
Despite the national economic downturn of the last couple of years, Phillips said he has seen little dropoff in donations and volunteers in the local Habitat efforts. The agency has a number of funding sources, including Habitat for Humanity International, and other programs aimed at low-income housing.
Wood County Habitat also raises money through the agency's ReStore facility, which accepts donations of materials, appliances, furniture and other items and sells them back to the community at a discount to raise money for Habitat programs. Phillips said ReStore is in the process of expanding into a bigger building on Seventh Street, with three times the space of the current building on Elder Street.
The store accepts new and used building-related materials including appliances, furniture, cabinetry, building and construction materials, new flooring, electrical and hardware, lighting fixtures, sinks, new toilets, tubs and showers, windows and more. Donated items can be picked up if needed, and a confirmation of donation will be provided for tax purposes.
