"Volunteers Needed: Carlton County Habitat for Humanity is beginning a new home build and soon will need folks to help."
That plea is being broadcast in earnest following last week's dramatic arrival of a "house in a box" - the latest project aimed at providing a home for a deserving family in the county.
According to Habitat for Humanity volunteer Laurene Longsyo, the upcoming building project will represent the sixth house built by the local group, the most recent of which is located on Kelly Avenue in Cloquet.
"We try to put a house up every two years," Longsyo said, "but in the meantime we have to replenish our volunteer services and start over from square one."
Though she said the Habitat group tries to alternate locations between the northern and southern parts of the county, the new house will be built in Cloquet on a vacant lot that had previously been secured right next to the previous house.
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A family has already been selected for the house, and since the couple has twin sons with disabilities, the house will be constructed to be handicapped accessible.
This house-building project will be quite different from the others, however, because its components have been constructed and preassembled by New Hope Construction and shipped via semi from the southern part of the country to Cloquet. The company specializes in helping supply homes for Habitat for Humanity.
A group of some 40 volunteers was on hand on a frosty morning last Thursday to download all of the home components off the truck, assembly-line fashion. The smaller components were transported into a storage building on the site, and the larger trusses and framing were secured outside. As soon as weather permits, a slab will be poured for the house and work will begin.
"We need people to help with the build, help with feeding the volunteers, clean-up workers, and many more jobs," said Longsyo.
Contractors are also being sought to assist with the more technical parts of the home construction.
If you are interested in helping or know someone who would, call the local organization's voice mail box at (218) 879-9759 or Volunteer Coordinator Alice Holm at (218) 879-6553.
