Darlington County Habitat for Humanity and Bnei Akiva start Habitat home in Hartsville

Volunteers from Bnei Akiva helping build a Habitat for Humanity home in Hartsville

Darlington County Habitat for Humanity joined with volunteers from Bnei Akiva to begin framing a new home on Mill Avenue in Hartsville. Bnei Akiva, based in New York City, brought in college students on their winter break to help with construction.

The students traveled from New York, Baltimore, Houston, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Memphis and Toronto, Canada, for the week. This is the eighth year that Bnei Akiva has come to Darlington County for their service project.

Bnei Akiva is building the Habitat home at 403 Mill Avenue.

“We have one person with us who has volunteered here for three years, and another who’s been here twice,” said Josh Kantrowitz, one of two Bnei Akiva Northeast Habitat for Humanity mission leaders. “It’s very rewarding because it’s helping people first-hand. With a lot of volunteer work, you’re not directly involved, but here you’re actually building homes and meeting the people who will live in them.”

“Last year we had the privilege of meeting the family, and seeing their faces as they watched the volunteers working on their roof was very special,” said Lior Levy, the second Bnei Akiva mission leader. “There are a lot of students here who are going into careers in health care, social work and other fields where it’s important to meet different communities and build connections and relationships, so this is very important experience for them.”

“Habitat is extremely grateful for the efforts of Bnei Akiva to improve the lives of our future homeowners,” said Mark Haenchen, Habitat’s executive director. “The use of volunteers allows us stretch our donor dollars to reach many more families in need of safe affordable housing.”

Darlington County Habitat works with low-income families to provide safe affordable housing with the use of volunteer labor and donated materials. Qualifying families spend a minimum of 300 hours helping to build the home and upon completion, they purchase the home at a discount with a 20 year interest free mortgage.

Habitat is seeking volunteers for construction projects and to volunteer in their ReStores. Monetary and in-kind donations are also appreciated. Anyone with interest can contact Habitat for Humanity’s Hartsville office at (843) 383-8500 or visit one of the ReStores at 120 W. Washington Street, Hartsville, and 1106 S. Main Street in Darlington.

Author: Stephan Drew

Share This Post On

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
x
6
Posts Remaining