Six RVs pulled into a scenic location behind Wayne Hills Baptist church this weekend – several traveling over 800 miles to get here.
These groups of RV missionaries are here to do a job. The task is to help SAW Habitat for Humanity bring their 70th home under dry, raising the walls and getting the roof on. The RV group has been visiting the valley and building with SAW Habitat for Humanity since 2007.
The group was welcomed on Sunday with a dinner hosted by The Ladies of the Lucille Davis Circle at the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro. The group participated in a House Blessing ceremony on Monday at the Habitat worksite location at 448 Kirby Avenue in Waynesboro.
It is the volunteer labor that helps the family save tens of thousands of dollars on the home’s construction and also helps reduce a Habitat mortgage to an affordable range for people who earn between $9 and $20 dollars an hour. The modest mortgage payments of a Habitat home are right-sized to the applicant’s income. Usually this is half the price of what a comparable home on the market would cost.
The Care-A-Vanners hail from Virginia, Iowa, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Maryland. These RV enthusiasts,” travel and live in their RVs while building homes for others. They may not know each other when they arrive at a site, but they all have one ideal in common, a desire to help those less fortunate have a decent home to live in and show Christ’s love in action. In addition to helping Habitat’s build homes, they enjoy making new friends and seeing new places.
Showing these visitors a warm Virginia welcome are many local businesses and supporters. While here the Care-A-Vanner volunteers can enjoy guest passes to the YMCA Waynesboro, enjoy snacks from McKee Foods, Hershey and Kitch’n Cook’d; and enjoy lunches and fellowship brought by lunch angels from Habitat’s community relations committee. Water has been provided by Canteen Vending Services in Verona, and ice to keep it cold from Sheetz in Waynesboro. Wayne Hills Baptist Church in Waynesboro has provided internet service, hot showers, power, fellowship and a beautiful location to park their RV’s.
“We thank the community for their support,” said Tom Fox, Team Leader of the 2016 build. “It’s our opportunity to give back for all with which we have been blessed. We meet and work with like-minded people, make new friends, and see beautiful parts of the country.” _.
SAW Habitat for Humanity has been an established housing resource for low income families since 1993. Families must have a minimum income of $1,680 a month gross (before taxes) to be able to participate in the Habitat home building program.
If you would like more information about the SAW Habitat for Humanity program and how you can help or be helped call (540) 886-1944 or go to the website at: www.habitatsaw.org. They have a Facebook page that you can follow and keep up with what’s going on.
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