There are many ways to get involved with Habitat for Humanity of Mariposa County.  Here are just a few: -Volunteer at an event -Work behind the scenes on one of our committees -Donate

“Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.” –Affiliate mission statement

$500 Tool Fund Gift

Westamerica Bank reached out again to the community by granting $500 to Habitat for Humanity of Mariposa County.  The bank’s corporate charitable giving program designated the money for Habitat’s Tool Fund. This donation marks the 4^th year that Westamerica has partnered with the Mariposa affiliate in its mission to help build “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.”

Christene Scott, manager of Westamerica Bank in Mariposa, presents a check to Volunteer Executive Director Beth Tomsick.

Wall Raising Ceremony for Habitat Home

Habitat for Humanity of Mariposa County raised the walls of its second home on Saturday, April 27.  President Al Johnson welcomed the gathering of volunteers and supporters and introduced the partner family, Chanthira Lesher and her two-year-old daughter Gam. Pastor Ginger Foster of Mariposa United Methodist Church led the group in prayer.

Chanthira Lesher took part in lifting the walls into place. She has completed 25 hours of “sweat equity” by taking online courses about the history and philosophy of Habitat and an online safety training course, required of all construction volunteers. In addition, she has earned hours by participating in Habitat events. After earning these preliminary hours of sweat equity, Chanthira was allowed to begin working in construction, and she helped complete a third wall of her home after the wall raising on April 27.

The 1,000 square foot home on Mueller Court is based on regional Habitat affiliate practices and designs from Habitat International for simple, decent, affordable homes.  Tiffany Newberry, owner of Pattern Dance, a drafting and design company,  designed the three-bedroom, two-bath home.  The home was planned for a family of two to six people and is the model for the smallest Habitat home that will be built by HFH of Mariposa County.

If you would like to volunteer to work on this home, please contact Habitat for Humanity of Mariposa County at 966-7444 or email the affiliate at info@mariposahabitat.org.

Second Partner Family is Announced

The affiliate has announced the selection of Chanthira Lesher and her daughter Gam as its second partner family.

Lesher has lived in Mariposa County for six years and is an employee of Delaware North Parks and Resorts at Yosemite.

Along with friends who partner with her and other volunteers, she will work with Habitat for Humanity to construct her new home on Mueller Court in Mariposa.

Habitat for Humanity works with communities with the goal of providing safe, decent, affordable housing for everyone. Partner families work on construction and then purchase the homes in what Habitat calls “a hand up, not a hand-out.”

In celebration of the new partner family, a lasagna dinner was held on Saturday evening, April 20 at Mariposa Lutheran Church.

This new home will be the second to be constructed by the local Habitat affiliate. The first one is on Sebastopol Road. It was completed in 2011.

HFH of Mariposa is guided by volunteer officers and directors. Construction is done by the partner family along with local volunteers and skilled builders. Habitat uses the term “sweat equity” to describe work hours put in by the partner family and designated friends.

Interested volunteers are invited to contact the local volunteer coordinator, Heidi Colliver, at the Habitat office at 966-7444 or by email at info@mariposahabitat.org.

A Brush With Kindness

Habitat for Humanity of Mariposa County is offering low-income families or individuals, the elderly, and persons with disabilities an opportunity to participate in a new housing preservation program called A Brush with Kindness (ABWK). For more information, please contact our office at 209-966-7444.