Fayette County Habitat for Humanity Year in Review

2020 was a year filled with uncertainty, difficulty, absence of the norm, and an unforeseen future. One defining thing the year did express was the need for a safe place to call home and a need for humanity ... a need for Habitat for Humanity.

Fayette County Habitat for Humanity represented an important role in showcasing its significance to the community through the months of 2020 by the continuation of remodeling, partnering, and assisting with many projects and creating new projects.

At the start of the year, Habitat had already several big endeavors. One was officially reopening the Picnic Rest Stop Area on Hwy. 77 near Hostyn. “Habitat chose this particular stop to honor the long-standing tradition Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn has of supporting Habitat and our mission,” said Kenny Couch, Habitat Executive Director. The second was a remodeling project at the Boys & Girls Club of Champion Valley’s Schulenburg facility. Sadly another early event was assisting Tejas Health Care in donating two mobile homes to two families in need; one family in Flatonia due to a fire and another family in O’Quinn whose mobile home was beyond repair.

Also at the start of the year Habitat, like other non-profit organizations in Fayette County, partnered with other area clubs and organizations to support each other. In March Habitat partnered with Gardenia Animal Shelter to build and furnish – but what else – a doghouse for the Texas Women’s League Gala which was auctioned off for $600.

During the summer Habitat celebrated the completion and occupation of their 8th single-family home by Trentisa Carlton, the ninth person to be served by the local Habitat chapter. So far they have built six homes in La Grange and two homes in Schulenburg. President Patrick Caballero, who has been with Habitat since their very first home build, said, “This accomplishment is due to the wonderful and sincere volunteers found right here in Fayette County. We are successful because of them and we are forever grateful. Also, thanks go to both our private and business contributors. The only way we can sell hardworking families a home that they can afford is through the kindness of many people and organizations.”

After the completion of the 8th home build and to continue its success in finding and identifying the right housing projects and assistance needed for our county, Habitat launched a Housing Survey in August. The survey can still be taken by going to this link: https://www. fayettecountyhabitat.org/survey2020.

Habitat also started a lot of new things and hopefully new traditions in 2020. In October Habitat held their first annual garage sale which successfully earned them $1,923 and a t-shirt fundraiser was started through La Grange Main Street. In November they announced their first Keystone Partner, Round Top State Bank. Habitat Keystone Partners provide $5,000 annually to help offset administrative costs allowing the organization to dedicate more raised funds directly towards their mission of providing a safe, decent place to call home for everyone in Fayette County. In December they launched a Christmas coloring contest for area children and sold the cards to raise funds.

Among the new things Habitat also gained a few new board members, like Marissa Meier who is now the Habitat’s Board of Directors Secretary. “I joined Habitat, yes to serve my community but also because the whole is more than the sum of its parts. I see the hope Fayette County and Habitat has to come together,” said Meier.

“2020 was a hard but necessary year for Habitat. While most of our plans were heavily impacted by COVID-19 we were able to develop more resources to serve the community and bring new partners to the table as we continue fighting for decent, affordable housing options for the hard-working families of Fayette County,” said Couch. Caballero added, “We ‘Are on the Grow’ and face exciting opportunities. We will continue to pursue our primary goal of providing working families the chance to purchase a home they can afford, help the needs of our elderly, and provide any assistance to anyone that needs it.”

2021 will only continue to be a growing, gratifying and hopeful year for not only Habitat but Fayette County as well in the housing front because Habitat is working with their partners at the Rural Non-Profit Networking Group, Fayette Community Foundation, and the Turtle Wing Foundation to create new resources for the fight against poverty housing in our community. “We have a top-notch development team exploring our next project and plan to continue to find new ways to build homes, community, and hope across Fayette County,” said Couch.

Interested in volunteering or joining Fayette County Habitat for Humanity? Call (210) 816- 0942 or email execdir@fayettecountyhabitat.org or want to learn more about Habitat and check out their upcoming events, programs, or projects visit https://www.fayettecountyhabitat.org.