Getting new start in Habitat house

Officials want to build a home with a female volunteer crew.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
STRUTHERS -- "I am excited and blessed," said Michelle Whipple as she stood in the living room of her new home, keys in hand.
"I want to thank everybody who helped us build our future."
A yearlong outpouring of love by family and friends, area businesses and Habitat for Humanity officials and volunteers culminated Tuesday with Whipple and her sons' receiving the keys to their McClure Street home.
Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County held a dedication ceremony at Whipple's home. On hand were volunteers, family and friends, as well as representatives of organizations that donated materials and fixtures.
Whipple and her sons, Victor Shaw and Brandon Beachum of Youngstown, plan to move into their new home this weekend. Shaw attends Youngstown Christian School and Beachum is a student at Cardinal Mooney High School.
Helped sister also
Whipple said her sister LeTonya Patmon signed a contract for a Habitat for Humanity house three years ago, and introduced her to the organization.
"God brought the right people into my life at the right time," Whipple said. "Habitat is a godsend, absolutely."
Whipple said she learned a lot of carpentry and spent a lot of Saturdays working on her home, from clearing the corner lot to finishing work on the three-bedroom, one-story house.
"I think I could build a house myself now," she said.
First Energy provided $52,000 to cover the cost of constructing the new home.
Paul Harkey, Ohio Edison area manager, said First Energy's partnership with Habitat for Humanity is a win-win situation because the company is investing in a home that is energy-efficient.
Stephen Hanzely, vice president of the Habitat board, said the completed home represents "a lot of work by a lot of people."
Volunteers
Groups from Poland Presbyterian Church, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396, Sheet Metal Workers Local 33, NEOUCOM, ALCOA, and Phi Sigma Chi engineering sorority at Youngstown State University were among the volunteers.
Coventry Lighting of Canfield donated the light fixtures, and Whirlpool Corp. donated appliances.
Brian Burick, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County, said Habitat officials want to build four more houses in the area in 2006, including one with an all-female volunteer crew.
No problem. The women of Poland Presbyterian Church, among about 20 volunteers from this church, are ready to roll up their sleeves again.
"We had a blast," said Kathy Cramer. "We take our teens on mission trips, and we thought we should do a local project. We just wanted to learn to build a house. We want to do it again."
Burick said Habitat for Humanity plans some projects with all-female volunteers to encourage women to be involved. He said Habitat research has shown that when more women are involved, projects are of better quality and are finished more quickly than are projects dominated by men.
Men who are not construction professionals tend to come onto a site to volunteer believing they know more than they do, he said. Women listen more intently and follow directions better, he said.
tullis@vindy.com