Groundbreaking planned for late Spring 2015
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
ROCKINGHAM — Amie Fraley was on a recruiting mission. She happened to be speaking to an engaged audience.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Amie Fraley, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills, speaks Monday with Rockingham Rotarians about upcoming local projects.
The new executive director of Habitat for Humanity of the Sandhills reached out on Monday to members of the Rockingham Rotary Club. She was the featured speaker during the group’s weekly lunch meeting and spoke on her organization’s Repair Ministry and its positive impact on the community.
Habitat for Humanity of the Sandhills serves both Moore and Richmond counties. It uses proceeds from its ReStore sales in Aberdeen and Rockingham to help fund local projects. While the Repair Ministry takes fewer dollars and can help more people quickly, she said, “we have not built a new home here in 18 months,” Fraley said. “That’s too long.”
Fraley said she hopes to break ground on construction of a new home in Spring 2015 in Richmond County. Wells Fargo has donated land as well as funds to raze and haul away the dilapidated structure currently on the property.
In September, the Rockingham ReStore location consolidated space in the Lowe’s shopping center. Less space, Fraley said, means merchandise is turned over more quickly.
“Sales have been through the roof,” she said.
It takes about $70,000 to build a new home if land and infrastructure, such as water and sewer, are in place. She challenged Rotary Club members to help come up with half of it and Habitat could find the other $35,000 through unrestricted donations and ReStore proceeds.
Volunteers, including the homeowner-to-be, worker under the supervision of a full-time construction manager on site, Fraley said. They need to come with a hardy work ethic and “a willing spirit” that can be guided by those who know how to hammer a nail.
The short-term focus will continue on repairs, Fraley said. There are two homes that are scheduled for projects in February.
Local Habitat leaders meet the first Monday of each month for a lunchtime gathering. The meetings are staged at churches around the county and offer an “open forum,” Fraley said, for those who want to offer ideas for future projects, fundraisers and more.
Rotary notes
In other Rockingham Rotary Club news:
* Dr. Dale McInnis, club president, said the annual auction and barbecue sale in November will net approximately $53,000.
“That’s a good number,” McInnis said. “Not as good as it had been.”
Auction sales, in particular, were down significantly, McInnis said. Normally between $15,000 and $16,000, this year’s totaled $9,300.
McInnis and auctioneer Ronnie Hawks acknowledged the number of items available at the auction were fewer than in recent years. To that end, it was decided that the Rotary begin collecting items now.
* McInnis, the outgoing president, welcomed the club’s new slate of officers. Chuck Cobb will be president for the 2015-16 year, which begins in June 2015. Dr. George Norris will serve as president-elect and chair the auction, Olivia Webb will remain secretary and Carolyn Rector will remain treasurer. New board of directors members are Dr. Al Covington and Aaron Richardson.
For the 2015-16 year, the balance of the board of directors is comprised of: Larry Weatherly and Debra Parsons while George Stone will serve as Sergeant-at-Arms.
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