Meet Your Neighbor: Habitat receives grant, Vanguard trades helpers

Sheri Trusty
·3 min read
Sandusky County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Pam Kensler and her daughter, Lucy, stand next to the foundation of the 30th Habitat for Humanity home in Sandusky County. Thanks to a Rural Capacity Building Grant, Kensler will move from part-time to full time and will engage the services of a consultant, opening the door for more builds in the county.

FREMONT — Sandusky County Habitat for Humanity will receive a Rural Capacity Building Grant that will allow the organization to expand its services to the county.

The grant, which was announced April 18, can greatly increase the community impact of Habitat, which is already engaged in several active projects.

The Rural Capacity Building Grant will allow Habitat to move Pam Kensler’s part-time executive director position to full-time and will provide funding for consultant services.

“A consultant will work with us for two years to help us increase our capacity in the community,” Kensler said. “We may be able to build more homes and do more projects.”

Sandusky County Habitat is nearly finished with its 2021 build in Clyde. The project began in April 2021 and will be entirely finished when landscaping is installed. The home’s family, a young couple and their two children, has already moved in, and a dedication will take place this spring.

Work has begun on the 2022 build, which is at the corner of Wilson and Sycamore streets in Fremont. This year’s build is unique because students from Vanguard’s Building Trades and Electrical Trades programs will assist with construction from beginning to end.

“Vanguard” students from Vanguard’s Building Trades and Electrical Trades programs assist with the foundation at the Habitat build in Fremont.
“Vanguard” students from Vanguard’s Building Trades and Electrical Trades programs assist with the foundation at the Habitat build in Fremont.

The students will learn a variety of skills, including how to pour concrete footers, lay block for foundation walls, build a floor and wall systems and set trusses. Building Trades instructor Mike Batdorf said the students will learn “how to read blueprints and lay out a real house on a real piece of land in Fremont.”

“Building Trades and Electrical Trades students will get a chance to do rough carpentry, rough in electrical and finish work and see a house turn into a home for a deserving family,” Batdorf said. “Hopefully our students can help make a difference in our community and learn a lot of new skills that can and will get them employed with the skilled trades. Our students are very excited about this opportunity.”

Sandusky County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Pam Kensler stands next to the organization’s trailer which was recently wrapped with the support of 419 Signs. The trailer highlights Habitat’s work in the community, provides contact information, and is a visual indication of a building site.
Sandusky County Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Pam Kensler stands next to the organization’s trailer which was recently wrapped with the support of 419 Signs. The trailer highlights Habitat’s work in the community, provides contact information, and is a visual indication of a building site.

Kensler said the partnership with Vanguard in very beneficial for Habitat, which normally can’t allow teens that young to work on a building site because of safety concerns. The students have passed OSHA training through Vanguard, freeing them to work on the build.

“I’m excited to get help from the high school students,” Kensler said. “It’s great to have them engaged. It helps us to have volunteers with some skill and great for them to get real-world experience.”

The Fremont build will be the 30th home constructed in the county by Habitat, but Habitat needs help to finish the project. There are various ways to assist with the home. Local individuals and businesses can provide financial or in-kind donations; volunteer on the build site; promote the project on social media; and support or sponsor this summer’s “Eat a Burger, Build a Home” fundraiser. A drive-thru grilled hamburger lunch will take place near the build site on June 10.

Sandusky County Habitat for Humanity sometimes stretches its charitable reach beyond the county. Through May 5, the organization is collecting donations for Habitat for Humanity International’s Ukraine Emergency Response Fund. The fund provides hotel vouchers for refugees and will, when the conflict ends, fund the rebuilding of homes in the Ukraine. Donors names will be entered into a drawing to win a quilt donated by local resident Diane Joseph.

For more information on supporting Sandusky County Habitat for Humanity, visit sanduskycountyhfh.org.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Meet Your Neighbor: Habitat receives grant, Vanguard trades helpers