A well-known nonprofit that builds and renovates homes for underprivileged families is almost finished building a new retail space at a notable Northampton County site.
Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley will host a grand opening celebration at 38 Main St. in Hellertown. The organization's mission is to "construct basic, quality houses for hardworking, disadvantaged families in the Lehigh Valley."
Donations will be taken Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and shopping hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Hellertown. Contributions will be taken beginning on September 10.
The Hellertown ReStore will take the place of the Neighbors Home & Garden Center, which closed in 2020 and offered plants, lawn and garden supplies, patio furniture, outdoor power equipment, and more. Originally known as Hellertown Agway, the 30-year-old borough mainstay was a home and garden center.
The former Neighbors property was acquired by Habitat Lehigh Valley in April, and according to Gina Loiacono, the nonprofit is manager of grants and community engagement, plans are to open a second ReStore there. ReStores take in donations and provide the general public housewares, décor items, and building supplies at a significant discount to their retail costs. According to the ReStore website, the proceeds are "a good deal for you, your community, and the environment," supporting the development of strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter in local communities and around the globe.
The first Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley ReStore opened its doors in 2013 at the old Circuit City electronics store on Grape Street in Whitehall Township. While the Hellertown location is getting off the ground, that ReStore will continue to run normally. "Habitat Lehigh Valley is expanding, and we are excited to invite you to our big opening!" On the nonprofit is Facebook page, there is an announcement. "You help create strength, stability, and self-reliance via shelter right here in even MORE of the Lehigh Valley today when you give, shop, and volunteer at the ReStore stores!"
The Hellertown site is undergoing ongoing upgrades, which started in the spring. Among other upgrades, the building will have new insulation, a restained facade, a renovated covered porch, a new HVAC system, and new interior paint. In order to "beautify the property and give it excellent curb appeal," workers are also renovating the old outside garden area and installing new landscaping, according to Loiacono. "We own the farmhouse near the Main Street entry, which will function as additional office space, and the actual retail property, which consists of the main, L-shaped structure," Loiacono stated.
Additionally, the barn on the site will initially be used for storage, but in the future, we plan to turn it into a portion of the ReStore's retail area where we sell things like outdoor décor and furniture to respect the neighbors' history while still advancing our goals. One of the 1,500 American affiliates of the international nonprofit Habitat for Humanity International, which has helped more than 2 million individuals find housing in communities across the United States and the globe, is Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley. Established in 1989, Habitat Lehigh Valley unites individuals from all backgrounds to provide aid to others.
It is comprised of a volunteer board of directors, a committed paid staff, leadership committees made up of volunteers, hundreds of homebuilding volunteers, and children and parents who collaborate to help families in need of decent, affordable homes become homeowners. In addition, the organization constructs and renovates homes for low-income families in our neighborhood in collaboration with other companies, people, and religious organizations. A statement on the website of Habitat Lehigh Valley states, "Our goal is to give our families a decent home in a safe community." "Our families also contribute to neighborhood revitalization and a larger local tax base." "To offer families in need a hand up, not a hand out, and to walk alongside them as they realize the dream of home ownership" is the stated mission of Habitat for Humanity.
To help build both their own and their neighbors' homes, each Habitat family puts in 250 hours of sweat work. They begin making monthly mortgage payments as soon as they move into their new home. According to the mission statement, "HLV maintains in contact with them, mentoring them and offering support to guarantee their successful transition to house ownership because most of our families are new to home ownership." The community's growing need for Habitat Lehigh Valley's services is the primary driver behind the organization's impending expansion. Many low- to moderate-income families are now forced to choose between paying their rent and putting food on the table due to rising housing expenses, according to Loiacono.
Industrious families can build and purchase a home with a zero percent mortgage through Habitat Lehigh Valley's unique homeownership program after putting in 250 hours of sweat equity. "We need to grow in terms of the income coming into the organization so we can continue to create more homes and also really boost up our crucial home repair program," Loiacono said, "as we see the affordable housing situation continuing to reach pandemic levels." "We want people to experience the security and independence that come with owning a house. It plays a major role in our mission. Regarding our home repair program, it truly assists current homeowners with security, weatherization, and aging in place of their properties, including new doors, windows, and roofs. We have assisted close to 100 customers in the last year with property maintenance, including the elderly, veterans, and people with disabilities. This has been especially helpful in low-income communities where many cannot afford to maintain their homes. To help build both their own and their neighbors' homes, each Habitat family puts in 250 hours of work. They begin making monthly mortgage payments as soon as they move into their new home.
According to the mission statement, "HLV maintains in contact with them, mentoring them and offering support to guarantee their successful transition to house ownership because most of our families are new to home ownership." The community's growing need for Habitat Lehigh Valley's services is the primary driver behind the organization's impending expansion. Many low- to moderate-income families are now forced to choose between paying their rent and putting food on the table due to rising housing expenses, according to Loiacono. Industrious families can build and purchase a home with a zero percent mortgage through Habitat Lehigh Valley's unique homeownership program after putting in 250 hours of sweat equity.
See Here for Homes for Sale Near Habitat Lehigh Valley ReStore in Hellertown, PA