Habitat to celebrate 20 years of building

Sisters Habitat for Humanity (SHFH), founded in 1991, will celebrate 20 years of building homes and changing lives on Sunday, September 18.

In the past 20 years, 45 families (141 people) have purchased decent, affordable homes in Sisters through the Habitat program. Sisters Habitat has also funded the building of 75 homes abroad with their 10 percent tithe to Habitat

International.

Linda Fuller, the co-founder of Habitat for Humanity International (1976) and The Fuller Center for Housing (2005) will be in Sisters for the celebration. Alongside her husband, Millard Fuller, their leadership forged the worldwide housing ministry that has built and sold over 400,000 homes to selected, qualifying families.

Linda will speak on Sunday morning at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration at 8:30 a.m. She will later speak at the 10 a.m. service at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, followed by a community potluck brunch. All are welcome to these services.

At 2 p.m., the public is welcome to help Fuller, SHFH volunteers and staff dedicate the Hammond Place Patio on the corner of East Cascade Avenue and Cowboy Street. The patio is dedicated in honor of the late Hort and Julia Hammond, SHFH founders. Millard Fuller Lane will be unveiled in honor of the late Millard Fuller.

Following these dedications, mortgage burnings will take place by the Slavkovsky and Mathison families at 180 N. Cowboy Street, the location of the first SHFH home, which was completed and dedicated in December of 1991. Both families have recently paid off their mortgages!

At 5:30 p.m. a free fundraising dinner at FivePine Conference Center will complete the celebrations. Linda Fuller will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are required for the dinner.

SHFH homes are built by volunteers working under the supervision of professional builders, who donate their time. The funds for building come from donations made by individuals, churches, corporations, foundations, proceeds from Sisters Habitat Thrift Store, proceeds from Sisters Habitat ReStore, and mortgage payments. Mortgage payments are around $500 per month (including property tax and insurance). The homes are sold at zero interest and zero profit. Mortgages are usually 30 years. Sisters homes are built within the Sisters School District.

Call the SHFH office for a ticket reservation; pick up tickets at the office, located at 141 W. Main Ave., or email [email protected] Limited tickets available.

For more information call the SHFH office, 541-549-1193.