Habitat for Humanity Moose Jaw was awarded “Group of the Year” honours as the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce and Golden West Radio celebrated our city’s volunteer spirit with the 2011 Citizen and Group of the Year Awards Luncheon Thursday, January 19th at Heritage Inn.
The Moose Jaw chapter of Habitat for Humanity, an organization now established in 102 countries around the world, started with a town hall meeting approximately four years ago. Out of that meeting emerged nine individuals with a vision and passion to build not just a house, but a home. In his acceptance speech, Habitat Chair Brian Martynook thanked those individuals - Joan Falasca, Bill Harris, Lonny Holmes, Donna Bowyer, Lori Froelich, Garry McKay, Swanee Gemmell and, lastly, himself – for their hard work and determination. Martynook also thanked Habitat’s site superintendant Fern Paulhus for all of his hard work.
Committee Member Swanee Gemmell says, aside from the site superintendant, all those involved with the local non-profit organization are volunteering their time.“It’s just been very rewarding for everyone involved”, he said. “People get involved providing lunches or coming out to the worksite to build for a day. Some people show up every Tuesday, some every Wednesday, and it just allows them to really plug in and give back to their community,” Gemmell added. “They know that they're helping these families grow and become better citizens".
"With the support of community, our board and committees, we presented keys to our first Habitat family in 2011”, Martynook said. “Keys to the second home will be presented this spring and we have selected the family for a third home which we hope to start building later this year once funds are in place”. Martynook went on to thank the many sponsors and volunteers to date. “With all of your contributions, these homes become a community project and follow the Habitat vision of a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Together we are able to change lives and improve the quality of life for these families and the community.”
“None of our work would be possible without countless community partners,” added Lee Guse, Media Spokesman for the local chapter. “Donations of property, labour, materials, money and time are changing the lives of local people forever… and trust me, if anyone would know, it would be me”.
Guse, who now volunteers behind the scenes, was among the first to swing a hammer with the local organization. He, his wife Taryn and their three boys were the first local family to qualify for Habitat’s affordable home ownership program.“I’m really pleased to see Habitat for Humanity receive this kind of recognition today,” he added. “There’s a lot of work that, unfortunately, sometimes goes unnoticed. This is validation that we’re doing great work in our community and, with continued help from dedicated individuals, corporate sponsors and the City of Moose Jaw, we can continue to offer a hand up to those who need it”.
Apart from Habitat for Humanity, Group of the Year nominees included the Multicultural Youth Group at Central Collegiate, the Moose Jaw Businessmen’s Club and the Moose Jaw Multiplex Builders fundraising committee.
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