A small army of volunteers from Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County descended on the hard-hit Montecito Oaks neighborhood to clear mud and debris from around residences. The local nonprofit organization is working with Habitat for Humanity International’s disaster response teams to spearhead volunteer clean-up efforts to help the victims of the recent disasters.
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County raised all first floor exterior walls on its latest affordable home building project at 4949 Sawyer Ave. on Feb. 7. Habitat’s Construction Manager Ben Bradley coordinated the team from Gordon-Fiano framing company, also located in Carpinteria, along with volunteers and future homeowners. The wall raising is an important milestone in the construction project, which was begun in early 2017 and will house three families, including eight children. Habitat plans to have the housing project completed in time for the resident children to attend their new schools in fall of 2018.
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County is working with Habitat for Humanity International’s Disaster Response Teams to spearhead local volunteer efforts in clean up and relief for victims of the deadly floods and mudslides in Montecito.
HFHSSBC’s CEO Jon Peterson is in daily contact with both Habitat International and Santa Barbara County emergency agencies coordinating the initial response.
“When we are able to get community volunteers in to help we will be ready,” Peterson said. “This is the community that supports our work and our families, and now we are here to support everyone impacted.”
Outside a mobile home down Via Real in Carpinteria, volunteers brushed paint onto a home’s exterior walls and front door.
Equipped with blue painter’s tape and brushes, employees from The Towbes Group joined Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County on Friday for projects benefitting more than 50 Central Coast families in the cities of Ventura, Carpinteria and Santa Maria.
Volunteers took a break from their workday to come out and help with repairs, construction improvements, painting and landscaping for low-income families.
Habitat for Humanity of Southern Santa Barbara County will host a Playhouse Build-a-thon 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at St. Joseph’s Church in Carpinteria.
The Playhouse Build-a-thon is a fundraiser designed to provide a fun team-service opportunity. Groups of 7-10 participants will build, decorate and paint a playhouse, which will later be donated to a local nonprofit serving youth or a family in need.
Ten groups will participate in the build-a-thon, each with a fundraising goal of $100 per participant, or $1,000 per group.
Funds raised will support Habitat for Humanity’s programs to build and repair safe, permanent, affordable housing in southern Santa Barbara County.