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When Gerald Hill got a call for a donation of $100,000 to the Crook County Habitat for Humanity, he could hardly believe it.
“A cash contribution of that size in this economy and economics when many non-profits are struggling to get through is outstanding, and kind of unheard of,” said Hill, the Steering Committee Chair of Crook County Habitat for Humanity. He said this is by far the biggest contribution that Crook County has received, and it has been requested to be used only for Crook County builds.
The contributor has requested to stay anonymous, and is giving the cash contribution in his father’s name.
“I believe having a home to call their own is one of the main building blocks of family life,” said the donor. “That’s what Habitat for Humanity does - it enables families to not just have a place to live, but to have a home. I’m also making this donation as a tribute to my late father, who would have been 100 this month.”
“When I was growing up, Habitat didn’t exist, but if it had, my family surely could have used it. For the first 12 years of my life, my family (mom, dad, two brothers and I) lived with my maternal grandparents. When I was about age 9, my father, who worked as a truck driver, had saved enough money to buy a small lot adjacent to my grandparents’ home. After another year, he had saved enough to have the site excavated and a foundation poured.
“We lived on a dead-end street, and at the end was the town dump, so there was a constant parade of trucks going by. My father put a sign in front of the foundation saying ‘clean fill wanted.’ Low and behold, we soon had all the dirt we needed for filling around the foundation. With that success, he put up another sign - ‘good lumber wanted.’ It turned out to be less successful. About half the lumber was useable, and the rest we had to haul to the dump ourselves.”
The donor said that after three years, the dream that started as an empty lot and then became a house had finally become a home.
“My parents were so proud, and justifiably so. Everyone who visited had to take the full tour, including hearing my father’s philosophy of building - “I used three nails where others would use only two.” (I believe this mirrored his philosophy of life, as well.) My feelings were more selfish - I finally had a bedroom that I didn’t have to share with my younger brothers. But we also each felt better about ourselves, and more confident in taking on life’s other challenges. That’s part of the deeper roots family members develop when they have a home of their own. Even though I haven’t lived back there for many decades, that feeling, those roots are still part of me.“
Habitat for Humanity in Crook County just placed a new family in a home in spring, 2010. In Crook County, there is usually one home built per year for the program. Hill said that during the last two years he has been involved with the program, Crook County has built two homes.
“We build Earth Advantage Energy Efficient homes, which are certified. This is something that we started doing two years ago.” said Hill. He explained that they have built one in Crook County so far. Even though they cost a little more up front, the solar panels and floor-radiated heat saves money over the long-term for the homeowners.
Mark Quinlan, Executive Director for the Bend and Crook County area Habitat for Humanity, said that Crook County is scheduled to build a new home this year, but they also have an opportunity to purchase two foreclosed properties in Prineville that they hope to put families in as well, so they might serve three families this year, altogether.
“We have some other grant sources and funding that can help build homes, but this donation will likely go toward building the bulk of two homes in Crook County,” said Quinlan.
“In economically challenging times like these, especially in places like Crook County, many folks are hurting,” said the donor. “But there are others (like me) who, even though we’re also anxious about what the future holds, have the ability to help those who are struggling. Doing so is part of the community-building process. So, I urge everyone to donate in whatever way possible - your money, your time and talents, your surplus materials. If not to Habitat for Humanity, then give to another non-profit organization. Our community will be better off because of it.”
“It was unexpected, it was one of those pleasant surprises that we love around here,” said Quinlan.
