GLOVERSVILLE - Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County is making strides in completing its eighth house renovation at 27 Wilson St. with help from corporate volunteer teams from area businesses.
The volunteers hammered away through a steady rainfall Wednesday dislodging an unstable roof of what was once an enclosed front porch at the house, which soon will be ready for sale to city resident Francine Nunziata and her children.
Habitat volunteers work steadily on the house every Saturday, but this time were joined by a team of volunteers from Frontier Communications, Ruby & Quiri and the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
"It's not only good for the community, but it's a team-building exercise. You're working with your co-workers and you're doing something good for the community," Habitat for Humanity Fulton County President Bob Eadicicco said.
In addition to dismantling and cleaning the debris from the porch, the volunteers finished the floor in the kitchen and bathroom areas, and added a foundation to the floor in the basement.
Frontier Communications Community Action Team Chairwoman Elissa Rosa said the twilight build was in step with Frontier's efforts to give back to the community.
"It's one of our priorities, to be active in the community and be active by helping others at events with manpower and however we can," Rosa said.
Frontier is also supplying the house with telephone wire and jacks.
Jamey Tollison, a volunteer who works at Ruby & Quiri, said he hopes to get more of his co-workers to join him for another work day. He said he moved to the area about three years ago and saw getting involved in the project as a way to connect with his new community.
Ruth Mandato, Fulton County Habitat's volunteers and web manager, said Ruby & Quiri already has been a strong supporter, offering lighting fixtures and other items for the house.
"You think about a Habitat home, it's like an old-fashioned barn raising where the community comes together and fixes it up," Eadicicco said.
Steve Morrison, maintenance manager at Walmart Distribution, said the company is planning to have a day in which employees can come together to work on the project.
"Walmart likes to give back to the community," Morrison said.
Eadicicco said it's difficult to say when the house will be finished because there are many areas that must be brought up to code in the two-story, three-bedroom house. According to Fulton County records, the house was built in the late 1800s.
Community involvement in the project has been nothing new since work started in December with a group of Mayfield High School students. Eadicicco said city government has been helpful and offered the building permit at no charge.
"It's really about partnership," Eadicicco said. "We're taking a piece of property that might have been on the demolition list."
The Habitat program renovates and builds houses using mostly donated labor and materials. The houses are then sold to qualifying families at no interest and no profit.
The family is also required to complete 500 hours of "sweat equity," which can include working on their own home, another Habitat home or other community services.
Anyone who'd like to get involved can visit www.hfhfc.com, call 773-4912 or e-mail habitatvolunteers@yahoo.com. Mandato said any businesses that would like to arrange a work day may do so by contacting Habitat through those outlets as well.
Amanda Whistle can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.
