As we shelter in place, we turn our thoughts and prayers to so many of our neighbors who are already struggling to afford inadequate shelter. Homes that are unsafe because of substandard wiring, or lack of a dependable water supply. Apartments too small for the family that are full of leaks and mold.
They are hardworking families living paycheck to paycheck. They are the hourly workers losing their jobs during the ripple effect of COVID-19. Families for whom the frustration felt at the grocery store is not due to a shortage of bread or toilet paper, but to always feeling the need to make tough choices. Healthy groceries or this month’s rent? Filling a prescription, or paying the water bill?
They are who we work with, side by side,to build not only a house, but their futures. Now, more of our neighbors are going to need a hand up. We have the need and the capacity to build 8-10 houses every year and are only limited by our resources.
Habitat McLean is doing what we can to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and partner families. We suspended volunteer activities. All staff are working from home; we closed the affiliate office and the ReStore. Closing the
ReStore, along with postponing the Love Thy Neighbor choir concert (one of our main fundraisers of the year typically held in April), has had a serious impact on our ability to help McLean County families in need, as they both provide crucial sources of revenue. The ReStore also serves the community as a vital resource for reasonably priced furniture, appliances, home goods, and building materials.
