By NICOLE BILLING
Editorial Assistant
Habitat For Humanity is helping an underprivileged family by fixing up a donated house. Joe Fritz, building coordinator, encourages all interested volunteers to sign up by September 1.
The house, located at 508 NW 4th St. in New Richland, needs a fair share of repairs before the family can move in.
According to Joe Fritz, "We need to replace the walls, windows and siding. There has to be Radon tests done. Volunteers won't be asked to do any of the big things, but it would be nice if they could help with little things like yard work and hammering nails into the wall. People could even help put sheet rock up if they wanted."
Habitat For Humanity was established in the late 1970s to help families in need of homes and things for survival. Many of the houses used for Habitat For Humanity projects are donated, but on occasion, they are given an abandoned lot and have to work from scratch. Or, if a donated house is deemed to be unsafe to live in, the building will have to razed and they will have to start from scratch.
Each selected family also dedicates some hours of volunteering as well. They also must take out a loan from a bank and start paying them back over time. Although, because the family has a lower income, the rates will be favorable to help them make payments easier.
Habitat For Humanity allows people to get back on their feet. But, in the end, it's up to the families to improve their lives.
The family does have some say in in terms of paint colors and possibly what kind of carpet they will want in the house.
To volunteer, call (507) 676-5344.