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Greenup County, Ky. Habitat working on housing project in 2012, is hopeful donations from new campaign will help new project to materialize.

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Portia Williams

PDT Staff Writer

GREENUP, Ky. — In honor of Valentine’s Day, Greenup County Habitat for Humanity (GCHFH) is kicking off a new campaign titled “Love Your Neighbor” in twelve local churches.

The Greenup County Habitat for Humanity hopes to garner donations for their home building projects via the new campaign.

Rhonda Nunley, who has served as president of Greenup County Habitat for the last three years, said the group aspires to raise at least $1,500.

“We didn’t really have a set number in mind, but we hope to raise a minimum of $100 per can. Love Your Neighbor is a fundraiser, where we are placing specially designed cans in twelve of the churches in the surrounding area to raise money for our next project,” Nunley said.

Nunley said the containers will be in place in the 12 churches beginning Sunday and will remain there for four weeks.

While the main goal is to raise funds for a new home to be built in Greenup, Nunley said the group hopes to raise awareness in the county by connecting with local churches.

GCHFH is a non-profit organization that relies on fundraisers, donations, volunteers and homeowners’ payments to build and repair affordable housing for low income families.

The Love Your Neighbor campaign will give congregations the opportunity to donate at their churches.

“The best thing about a donation to GCHFH is that it never ends. Homeowners are required to pay back a zero percent loan for materials and contracted labor, so the donations invested into the homeowners’ properties is given back to us through their payments,”Nunley said.

According to Nunley, GCHFH became an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in December 2008.

Since then, they have completed a new home, a home rehab and A Brush with Kindness project.

Two more outside repair projects are scheduled to be completed this spring. GCHFH has continued to raise funds, solicit donations and apply for grants in preparation of building their second home.

Nunley said a major obstacle of needing land was overcome last year when Cheryl Greene donated two lots to the organization in memory of her parents.

A family of four, which consists of a grandmother who recently received permanent custody of three grandchildren under the age of 7, has been selected to partner with GCHFH to own the home.

The family currently lives in a one bedroom apartment. GCHFH requires each adult family member to work a minimum of 200 “sweat equity” hours during the build.

“A new home will be a new opportunity for this family,” Nunley said. “We are eager to start building for this deserving family and we need to raise an additional $15,000-$20,000 to be able to complete their home.”

Other ways to contribute to GCHFH includes volunteering, donating materials or attending a fundraising event.

The non-profit is completely operated by volunteers, so there are a variety of opportunities for people interested in helping those in need of adequate housing.

Upcoming fundraisers include a golf scramble on May 18 at The Oaks Country Club, Friday Cruise-ins starting in May and a 5k Race.

For more information visit the website at greenupcountyhabitat.org, email at greenuphabitat@gmail.com. Donations can be made to GCHFH, P.O. Box 905, Greenup, Ky. 41144.

Portia Williams may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 286 or portiawilliams@civitasmedia.com