Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity serves Pendleton, Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties, with representatives from each county on its the board of directors. Currently, Pocahontas County does not have a representative on the board, an issue CEO/Executive Director Michelle Connor hopes to remedy soon.
“We’d actually like to have two directors from Pocahontas County, and we don’t have any right now,” she said. “Habitat is a community-based organization and our ability to do projects in the community is based upon the interest and desire of local people who want to have a project in the community.”
Candidates for the board positions must have a vision for the future of the communities in Pocahontas County and be able to volunteer their time.
“We’re looking for folks who are community minded – who are prepared to invest a commitment of time,” Connor said. “Our board meetings are all day Saturdays once a quarter and then we do an hour conference call once a month. Our expectation would be that they attend community events – or if we’re doing a home repair that they be willing to show up and greet people, and be our face of Habitat for Humanity in Pocahontas County.”
While habitat waits for new board members, it continues to provide assistance in the county. Last summer, three brand new homes were built in Durbin and crews are currently working on refurbishing a house on the same lot. Habitat crews are also working on repairs throughout the county.
To solidify its position in the county, AHHH contacted Pocahontas Woods, Inc. with plans for the former Pocahontas Woods building. Three months ago, the Pocahontas Woods, Inc. board transferred ownership of the building to AHHH, which plans to utilize the space.
“We have an occupant there right now which is Pocahontas Produce on the Move,” Connor said. “It’s two local farmers and they started a Community Sustainable Agriculture opportunity, which people can buy a share of their farm and in exchange for that they get so many pounds of produce a week. They pick that up on Thursday.
“We’re kind of renting the space to them for that enterprise,” Connor continued. “We’re still looking for what the community interest might be and how best to use that Pocahontas Woods building. Ultimately the plan would be, if we can find enough community support in the form of having Pocahontas County board members and folks who are willing to help recruit families, we’d like the Pocahontas Woods building to be our primary office in Pocahontas County.”
To apply for a repair or new home, contact Tina Reel at 304-358-7642 at the Franklin office, or Kathie Holland at 304-647-3342 at the White Sulphur Springs office.
Those interested in the board member positions should contact Connor at the Franklin office at 304-358-7642.
Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com