Three Findlay families are set to see the first walls of their future homes rise Tuesday evening, as Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County launches its fall construction season with a public ceremony in the Krystal Ridge neighborhood.
The Raise the Wall ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of Bishop Lane, marking the start of construction on homes for the Melick, Phillips and Miles families. The event is open to the public, according to WFIN.
Three homes, three different community-backed builds
Home No. 71 will be an Apostle Build funded and constructed by 14 local churches, while Home No. 72 will be financed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation and built by Marathon employees. Home No. 73 will rely on a broader community build involving companies, organizations and individual supporters.
The church-led project brings together congregations including First Presbyterian, Cedar Creek Church, St. Michael of the Archangel Catholic Church and several others. Marathon has sponsored entire home builds in the Findlay-Hancock County area multiple times, and company officials said the partnership reflects a goal of strengthening the communities where its employees live and work, as detailed by WFIN's report.
Families are working toward stability, not just new addresses
Lei Melick, a single mother of three, previously lived in an aging trailer that needed constant repairs before moving into a single room at her parents' home. Miranda Phillips, who works full time as a medical assistant, has been raising three young children in a small two-bedroom apartment, while Toni Miles and her four teenage children have faced steadily rising rent despite her full-time work as a certified nursing assistant.
Habitat's program pairs the construction of a home with budgeting, income management and homeowner preparation. The local affiliate also operates a Financial Opportunity Center, and its application information says the organization has shifted to limited application windows because of overwhelming demand for its programs, according to Habitat Findlay.
Volunteers will turn the ceremony into construction
Volunteers are expected to be central to the build, with Habitat providing tools and instruction and no prior construction experience required. People interested in helping can sign up through the affiliate's website or call 419-429-1400, extension 5.
Habitat for Humanity of Findlay/Hancock County has served local families since the affiliate's first groundbreaking in 2000 and also runs the ReStore at 1200 Commerce Parkway. Its broader mission is to create affordable shelter and long-term stability for Hancock County residents, according to the organization's local history and mission page.
