No place like home in Kokomo
Local Habitat chapter partners with Purdue on build
It has been said that “There is no place like home,” and Habitat for Humanity of Kokomo certainly takes that motto to heart. The local organization has built 66 six homes in the Kokomo area in the last 35 years.
Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 in Amicus, Ga., and is an international organization that has constructed or rehabbed over one million homes, sheltering more than four million people. Kokomo’s chapter, founded in 1988, states on its website that the group “is dedicated to eliminate substandard housing locally and worldwide.”
This diverse group of local individuals from all walks of life and careers gathers on weekends to construct homes for the unhoused or those living in substandard conditions, working together on the home projects.
Habitat for Humanity Kokomo’s most recent build project is on South Diamond Street. The home’s future residents are military veteran Kevin Dyer and his family. Dyer said that Kokomo’s Habitat group “are doing a good job” not only by spending their time volunteering, but also using professional construction techniques in their homes.
Leanne Fogg, Habitat for Humanity Kokomo’s coordinator and public relations director, said that many of the volunteers have been working with the group for decades.
“Our average age of volunteer is around 70 years old,” she stated.
That is one reason Habitat for Humanity welcomed the assistance given by students from Purdue University’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, located on the Lafayette campus. Local Habitat volunteer and retired IU professor Robin Symonds is glad for the help.
“I’m 70, and it helps to have a younger person up on the roof helping out,” said Symonds.
Many of the veterans, one of them being 80 years old, are still at it when it comes to helping and constructing. But veteran Habitat volunteer Chuck Schaffer stated that the Purdue students “are a blessing.”
Ally Aagaard, a junior in construction trades management, is one of the Purdue Habitat chapter’s volunteers who worked on the recent Diamond Street build. She has participated in other builds around the country since she was a college freshman. She said it was during her last few years of high school when she “found a love for building, and I thought Habitat was a good way to learn building skills.”
Another student, Catherine Irwin from Columbus, Ohio, was very glad that Kokomo welcomed the Purdue contingent into their build.
“Being involved in Habitat for Humanity has been incredibly rewarding,” said Irwin. “It is really amazing to get to work with so many devoted volunteers and employees that clearly care so deeply about their communities.
“I am so grateful that the Kokomo affiliate has let us come work with them every week. I especially love that we get to work alongside the partner families in Kokomo. This affiliate has such a strong sense of community, and it has been a privilege to be a part of it.”
Civil engineering major Andrea “Andy” Azzarita enjoys helping people with knowledge from his studies and other builds he has participated in.
“Saturday builds in Kokomo are something I look forward to each week, and it gives me a chance to take a break from schoolwork and use my skills in a meaningful way that makes a difference for people,” said Azzarita.
The Diamond Street build has been a few years in the making. According to Schaffer, Habitat bought one lot, and the City of Kokomo donated the lot next to it to give the group the ability to build the house perpendicular to the street across the two lots. The Dyer family had the opportunity to pick the location.
Those interested in donating or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Kokomo are asked to contact Public Relations Director Leanne Fogg at 765-452-2185 or via email at hfhkokomo@gmail.com.
The Habitat office is located at the southeast entrance of the First Christian Church, Corner of Sycamore and Malfalfa Road. Mail inquiries can be sent to:
Habitat For Humanity of the Kokomo Community, Inc.
P.O. Box 158
Kokomo, IN 46903-0158