GUELPH – Habitat for Humanity is growing – building its capacity to take on more projects and build more homes for families in Guelph and Wellington County.
With more than 230 units underway or planned over the next two and half years in Guelph, Fergus and at Orchard Park, Habitat is also negotiating further land purchases to expand its capacity beyond 2025.
Habitat Guelph Wellington has ReStores in Guelph and Fergus that provide a stable source of funding that helps Habitat build homes, and support community organizations and initiatives that need a hand.
In May 2023, the Art Gallery of Guelph unveiled an art installation by artist José Luis Torres – Temporary Territories – featuring donated chairs, doors, windows, all coming from the ReStore.
This showcased what can be done with used, recycled, re-purposed furniture – and could inspire people to visit the local ReStore and see what they might accomplish for their own homes, officials say.
In June 2023, the Guelph Wellington ReStore team helped to furnish a historic farmhouse on Gartshore Street in Fergus – a collaborative partnership between the Centre Wellington and Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
This home helps to recruit and retain family physicians and emergency department staff.
“When the township reached out to see if we could support this initiative, we didn’t hesitate for a moment,” said Restores director Deb Stanson,
“At the core of what Habitat for Humanity does is community service. We help to provide housing solutions of all kinds, and when this opportunity came up, it was a natural fit.”
More recently, the ReStore’s kitchen salvage team of nine volunteers, led by longstanding volunteer Jim Hoare, rolled up their sleeves in the marathon build of plazaPOPS at Shelldale Community Centre in Guelph.
Volunteers came together to build planters, tables and benches.
During the plazaPOPS assembly, over 30 volunteers from three organizations participated, with over 100 pollinator plants and herbs planted, in over 118 soil ecosystems of Ecowool, compost and worm castings.
“The level of commitment from our team continues to amaze me,” Stanson said.
“There’s no project too big or too small – from kitchen salvages to art installations, and now this community park. We couldn’t do this without the enthusiasm of our team.”
“And this enthusiasm comes from the shared understanding that our community needs people to step up – to provide housing for people in need and to create new opportunities for a richer life here at home.
“It’s wonderful to be able to give back to the communities that have supported us so much over the years.”
