In May 2012, Coast Realty Group Nanaimo announced a three-year, $30,000 commitment to Habitat for Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island (HFHMVI), to assist with the building of the roofs of three duplexes. This fall, Coast Realty Group Nanaimo REALTORS® visited the Hecate Street duplex build and helped with the finishing touches and painting. They were excited to return to the scene on December 14, 2012, to celebrate the dedication ceremony and to see two local families receive the keys to their new homes.
“Our goal as REALTORS® is to help families achieve the goal of home ownership,” says REALTOR® Patrick Dwyer. “To take that a step further, and help two families that would not otherwise have the opportunity to own their own home, is a great feeling.”
Jo-Anne Graham, a single, working mother with one 14-year-old son and Kerry and Laura Sawchyn and their 2-year-old son were selected as the two families for the duplex build in 2012. Both families have now each completed 500 hours of sweat equity and are very excited to be moving into their new homes soon.
Kerry and Laura volunteered at the Nanaimo Recycle Exchange and family members contributed to sweat equity by volunteering in our Nanaimo ReStore. Jo-Anne and her son worked at the build site, cleaning up in the evenings after the trades people had left. Jo-Anne’s son also contributed to their sweat equity hours by volunteering at Nanaimo Foodshare and serving coffee at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital. Families always enthusiastically celebrate the completion of their sweat equity hours!
“This Habitat project takes our community another step closer to addressing the needs of families living in poverty in Nanaimo,” said Teresa Pring, CEO, HFHMVI. “We wish to extend our sincere appreciation to the corporate sponsors and community supporters that helped us to achieve our fundraising target of $180,000.”
The HFHMVI “Building Homes Building Hope” fundraising campaign has raised approximately $180,000 towards this duplex project, but donations are still needed to offset costs and secure funding for the 2013 Nanaimo duplex build that will begin in the spring. Gifts can be made online, in person at the HFHMVI office at 1-4128 Mostar Road, or over the phone at 250-758-8078.
Pictured (left to right): REALTORS® Joel Brittain, Kathy White, Nicole Ta, Amy Ballard, and Jim Ballard.
