Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

January 25, 2007 issue

Avery County Habitat For Humanity Starts Monthly Habitat After Dark

Story by Celeste von Mangan

Avery County Habitat for Humanity held its inaugural Habitat After Dark celebration on Tuesday, January 16, replete with homemade chili and bluegrass tunes. Habitat After Dark will become a monthly event to raise awareness about what Avery County Habitat for Humanity does. The organization has been in existence since 1993, and volunteers have built 22 houses since that time.

“We’re between houses now,” said Jackie Fouche, director of development. “We have 40 acres right outside of Elk Park. It’s a pretty little place. We’ve had it for several years and we’re trying to find someone to donate so we can build infrastructure. Then we can build roads, sewers—all the things you would need to build a community. We have a house that is almost complete now. Wee Kirk Presbyterian Church in Linville is sponsoring the new house and the footings are complete for two more.”

People are invited to apply for a house at Habitat’s Newland office. If their application is accepted, the soon-to-be-homeowners have to donate 500 hours of sweat equity. They can start with their own house and then work on someone else’s house.

The Habitat After Dark celebrations have been initiated in part to attract potential applicants, volunteers and donors. Information will be available and the staff, director and current volunteers are planning to attend each monthly gathering. Sarah Zielke, AmeriCorps volunteer coordinator, helped organize the first celebration and her band, The Springhouse String Band, supplied the music.

“Tell everyone, your friends, to come out,” said Zielke. “It will be fun—you won’t be talked at or preached at.”

The staff and director also invite everyone to come to the office anytime.  

“We want people to come in and apply,” said Fouche. “We don’t bite; we’re all nice people. Come in and apply and speak to our office manager, Melanie. You will learn what you are able to earn, what you have to do—it’s very across the board. There is no big secret to it.”

Fouche, who has been in Avery County “forever,” fell into the job of director of Habitat for Humanity after working as a volunteer for the organization. In addition to building houses, Habitat has two ReStores in Newland where people can work and receive deep discounts on already discounted building materials and supplies. The ReStores also have new hardware items that are donated as overstocks. One store is located on the square in Newland at 130 Montezuma Street; the other is about a mile south of town on Miller’s Gap Road next to the Dragon Palace Restaurant.

 “I am actually looking forward to the monthly celebrations,” said Fouche, “and if you can ever go to a house dedication, when the house is finished, it’s really a very moving thing. I can’t tell you. It will bring you to tears.”

For more information about Habitat After Dark, call Sarah at 828-733-1909. The Avery County Habitat for Humanity office is located at 320 Pineola Street in Newland.