KEARNEY, Neb. – After three months of waiting, the first group of community volunteers will be on the Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity building sites Saturday morning, according to Marshall Everitt, Kearney Habitat president.
The kick off for the build season is traditionally the last weekend in March, but this year the kick off was postponed, as were most events and activities across the state, due to Covid-19. In the meantime, a small group of Kearney Habitat builders has been working on the first two of three homes that were planned for 2020. However, this Saturday will be the first time the build sites will be open to community volunteers. The first group will be 10-15 members of New Life Assembly.
“We will be following the guidelines,” Everitt said. “We will restrict the total work group to no more than 25 people. Everyone will be wearing masks and gloves and be working six feet apart, and we will minimize sharing tools. No meal will be served, but we will have devotions and coffee at 9 a.m.”
In the past, anyone who wanted to help build on a Saturday morning could do so by showing up at the worksite. This year, volunteers will need to register in advance with Cindy Hayes, Kearney Habitat volunteer coordinator. Hayes can be reached at 308.627.6172 or cindyhayes83@gmail.com Also, a waiver is accessible on the Kearney Habitat website.
Since March, the website has carried the following notice: “The 2020 building season that was set to begin on March 28, 2020 has been postponed until further notice. We all need to do what is best for our own wellbeing and what is best for our community by doing our part to slow down the spread of the virus. As new information is available, we will keep you posted on our website, Facebook and email. God bless and stay safe!”
“We’re at a point now where we can have our first volunteers,” Everitt said.