Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity board of directors honored

Talk about it

The Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity board of directors was recently honored at the South Dakota Habitat for Humanity annual banquet — Simple Homes, Big Dreams — in Sioux Falls.

The board was recognized due to its work to re-energize the local chapter. The Mitchell regional chapter has gone from a point of considering closing to completing four “A Brush with Kindness” projects, holding a successful “Living Quarters” fundraiser, being recipients of several grants and a number of sizable donations, and purchasing a lot on East First Avenue for the next home build.

It has taken the combined efforts of the entire board: Bruce Blumer, Gwenda Koch, Kathy Hektner, Bonny Hansen, Maurice Hartmann, Marilyn Haley, Lori Baye, Sherri Becker, Greg Neppl, Nancy Osterloo and Chris Fosness.

The purpose of the Simple Homes, Big Dreams celebration is to inform, inspire and invest. The day began with training sessions for the South Dakota Habitat affiliates and state board representatives.

The topic was Legal and Compliance Issues related to Mortgage Servicing, facilitated by Adrienne Thorson, chairperson and CEO of AmeriNational Community Services, Inc.

Dr. Helen Usera of Rapid City created a video of her participation in a Build Louder trip to Guatemala. She showed the informal settlements and the hard work of volunteers. Her story opened eyes and moved others to participate in a Build Louder excursion.

Inspiration came from Naomi Nibobeza’s emotional speech of how her family left Rwanda during the genocide. Five years ago, they relocated to Brandon and became a partner family with the Greater Sioux Falls Habitat for Humanity.

To learn more about Habitat’s work in your local community, contact Bruce Blumer, Mitchell Regional Habitat for Humanity board president, at 996-9068 or habitat@santel.net.

Tags: habitat for humanity, news, local, mitchell, state