Member Spotlight: Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity
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2020 marks Fahe’s 40th anniversary of building the American Dream. Over these four decades, Fahe has invested over $1.5 Billion which has directly changed the lives of over 616,000 people. Our 50+ Members, all local leaders, are directly responsible for our ability to connect communities to investments and opportunity. As we celebrate our anniversary throughout the year, we are taking time to acknowledge and showcase our Members and highlight the important work they are doing which will impact the future of our communities for the next 40 years and beyond.
Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity – Morgantown, WV
Established in 1990, Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHFH) serves the residents of Marion, Monongalia, and Preston counties in West Virginia. The organization is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing, locally and worldwide, by building safe and affordable homes, advocating for fair housing policies, and by providing training and resources to help families improve their living conditions. Since 1990, Mon Valley Habitat has built 60 homes which has provided housing for about 240 individuals.
MVHFH operates through volunteer work and donations, both monetary and material donations. Every year, approximately 13,000 hours of service is given through MVHFH volunteers. Volunteers serve by working on construction sites, working events, serving on committees, and by working at MVHFH’s ReStore, which was opened in 2007. The ReStore takes donations of furniture and housing materials that are then sold at a discounted rate to the general public. The proceeds of the sales goes towards funding the construction of Habitat homes in MVHFH’s service areas.
With 1 in 9 households in West Virginia spending at least half of their income on housing, the services MVHFH provides are essential. Having an affordable home allows families to put money towards other life essentials such as healthcare, education, and savings. Mon County partners with families to help them on their journey to become more financially stable, which in turns builds stronger communities and instills more hope in the region.
Mon Valley Habitat is Thirty & Thriving
Mon Valley Habitat turns the BIG 3-0 this year and is asking for help from the communities to celebrate this milestone! If not for it’s awesome supporters – stakeholders, donors, volunteers and more! – Mon Valley Habitat wouldn’t be here as the empowering, thriving organization it is.
First established as Mon County Habitat for Humanity back in 1990, this non-profit now serves Monongalia, Marion and Preston Counties. With the service area expansion, Mon County Habitat’s name was officially changed at the beginning of 2019 to Mon Valley Habitat. Not only has the excitement grown to serve more individuals and families, but so has the financial need.
Tom Cole, a retired Marion County resident, serves on Mon Valley Habitat’s Board of Directors and is also the new Development Committee Chairperson at the organization. Mr. Cole is eager to help Habitat’s mission by raising funds and awareness for the need of safe, affordable housing in our communities.
Cole shared his thoughts on why people should support Mon Valley Habitat by saying, “You have many families out there that struggle today. Child care costs are so expensive. Housing costs are very expensive. A lot of families don’t have the means to go out and buy a house. Habitat provides a way that these families can live the American dream and become homeowners.” He went on to explain how Habitat’s Homeownership Program works. “You know, they have to work for it. It’s not like Habitat hands them the keys to a house. They perform sweat equity and pay a mortgage.”
For Mon Valley Habitat’s 2019-2020 Appeal Campaign, Brooke Brown, wife of WVU Football Head Coach Neal Brown, was asked to be a spokesperson as well as Mr. Billy Atkins who helped found Mon County Habitat. Over 5,000 letters were personally addressed and mailed out with hopes to increase awareness of Mon Valley Habitat’s presence and receive donations.
President of Mon Valley Habitat’s Board of Directors, Dolores John, touched on the organization’s accomplishments and goals saying, “We’ve built many houses in Mon County. We’ve just completed our first build in Marion County, and we will be building soon in Preston County. Your donation to our organization stays local, as we build local and assist our neighbors in our communities.”
Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity partners with individuals and families currently living in unsafe, unhealthy, unaffordable housing and who are pursuing a better, healthier, more financially-stable life. Habitat for Humanity does not build and give away homes for free. Through Habitat’s Homeownership Program, future Habitat homebuyers help build their own home alongside staff and volunteers; they take homeownership and financial education classes; and they gain the necessary knowledge of being a responsible homeowner.
To Learn More About Mon Valley Habitat and Their 30th Anniversary:
To learn more about Mon Valley Habitat’s mission and for donation information: www.monvalleyhfh.org/
Mon Valley has set up a birthday wishlist for items to help in their mission of serving their community. The wishlist can be found here: www.monvalleyhfh.org/wishlist
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Morgantown ReStore page: https://www.facebook.com/MorgantownRestore/
Monthly Newsletter: www.monvalleyhfh.org/newsletter
Contact Mon Valley Habitat’s Program Coordinator Christina Cook for more information: Volunteer@monvalleyhfh.org, (304) 292-0914 ext. 101
Join Fahe’s Anniversary Celebration
Over the course of 2020, we will be celebrating Fahe’s history through sharing historical photos, family stories, and future projects, as well as other Member Highlights. Please join our 40th anniversary celebration by sharing your memories, pictures, and support for Fahe on social media. Please join in by using the hashtag #WeAreFahe. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter.
