Home of the Holidays tour offers holiday boost for Habitat for Humanity

Nov. 13—A trio of Christmas-themed homes, as well as an historic schoolhouse, shone this weekend like the 'Christmas Star'. All four were featured in the Home for the Holidays House Tour to benefit Habitat for Humanity.

The event, which has been going on for around a decade now, is Habitat for Humanity's largest fundraiser of the year, according to Holly Whitaker, chairperson for the House Tour.

She noted that the non-profit organization has wonderful sponsors to support the tour each year.

"And we couldn't do the event unless people opened their homes up and spent all these hours and, really, months decorating their homes. They're so gracious to do that," she said.

"This year, the home tour is special since it comes while the organization is in the middle of building a house for a family of two — a single mother and her 8-year-old son," Whitaker said.

The two-bedroom, one-bathroom home was started on October 18, and Whitaker said the builders already have trusses up, meaning the home is being built more quickly than normal.

The reason for that, Whitaker said, "We've hired contractors for the first time ever — Brown Brothers Construction. And they're going to get it to the point where it's dry-walled. That's when our volunteers come in and board members and everything, and help finish it."

Using a construction company, rather than depending solely on volunteers to put together a house, is working great for the charity organization, Whitaker said. On previous projects, their director of construction has been Dr. Glenn Proudfoot, who coordinated all the aspects of getting construction volunteers in place.

However, Whitaker said that ever since COVID, the emergency room doctor has been incredibly busy, so hiring contractors ensures that projects continue.

"We're going to try to build a house or two every year now," Whitaker said.

Once a homeowner is approved by the organization, they have to spend at least 250 hours working on their own home, as well as going to financial counseling to ensure they are in the best position to maintain their home.

They are provided a 30-year mortgage with an extremely low interest rate — around 0% to 1%.

"Usually they're paying less for a brand new home than they were renting," she said.

Whitaker and other Habitat volunteers spent their time this weekend at the Pisgah Schoolhouse, the old, refurbished school that served for the base of operations. Along with being decorated up itself, the schoolhouse hosted this year's silent auction, had an area for visitors to take pictures with Santa (aka Bill Williams), and served as a shuttle stop for one of the private homes participating in this year's tour.

Visitors could take a short ride over to the Pisgah Church Road home of Beverly and Jerry Gleason, who welcomed groups into their farm-style home.

Beverly Gleason said on Sunday that she had a good crowd stopping by to view her home over the two-day event, and many of those visitors had compliments for her and the decorations.

"This has been phenomenal. And it's for such a good cause. Everybody has been so nice that comes through," she said.

She added that she had designed the décor herself, with a little help from her husband.

Among the highlights was a photograph of her father, dressed up as Santa, over the fireplace.

Over at the Tranquil Point home of Jonathan and Heather Speck, visitors were treated to what Heather Speck was her normal way of decorating for Christmas — not something special she did just for Habitat for Humanity.

"I've been collecting for 13 years," she said of her Christmas decorations. "There are over 3,000 ornaments, and there is 2,500 feet of ribbon and garland. There are even some vintage ornaments on the tree. That are 30-35 years old," she said.

At the Home of Jerry and Tina Clay on Enclave Drive, the family's friend Marion Price was on hand to answer any questions visitors had.

Price said that Tina Clay had started back in August putting up the lighting and decorations that were found in all corners of the home, including both the "man cave" and the "she cave" studio that Tina Clay works from.

The Clays had 10 Christmas trees throughout the home, with the one in the living area displaying ornaments that reflect the adventures the family have been on throughout the years, Price said.

Carla Slavey can be reached at cslavey@somerset-kentucky.com