Topeka Habitat for Humanity

With an American flag fluttering in the breeze off the back of his Harley-Davidson Sportster, Keith Mohan led the way as about 40 riders took off Saturday morning from Topeka Harley-Davidson on the 2nd annual Habitat for Humanity Ride and Silent Auction.

Mohan, a union iron worker from Topeka and the father of two boys, said he also rode last year in the inaugural event.

"I try to go on as many charity rides as I can," he said. "There's a lot of families out there that don't have homes or a place to stay. Children are a priority of mine." (Read the rest at CJOnline.com)

 

 

Alberto Alvarez and his family weren't sure what they were going to do when their house at 319 S.E. Chandler burned to the ground in January.

That is when a co-worker from Whelan's, where Alvarez works as an insulation installer, stepped in. He said she took the time to fill out all of the paperwork necessary for his family to be considered for a Habitat for Humanity home.

"I was going through some tough times and she pretty much took care of everything," Alvarez said. "All I had to do was sign it."

Alvarez and his family spent Saturday moving their belongings and new furniture into the house they can now call their own. (Read the rest at CJOnline.com)

 

 

Construction workers on Wednesday moved a house to a foundation for Topeka Habitat for Humanity -- the 65th Habitat home in Topeka.

Using a 150-ton capacity crane from Gilmore Crane Corp., of Topeka, workers lifted one-half of the house to the foundation, followed by the other half. KanBuild Inc., of Osage City, hauled the two halves of the house to the building site at 1116 S.E. Locust.

Construction classes at Seaman Unified School District 345, under the direction of John Bloomfield, built the modular home in two sections, said Ivan Weichert, construction manager for Topeka Habitat for Humanity. The students also constructed oak cabinets for the kitchen, he said. (Read the rest at CJOnline.com)

 

A dozen students sit around John Bloomfield's classroom waiting for instruction from their teacher-foreman.

Bloomfield wastes no time before doling out assignments to students in his architecture and construction science class. On this day, his young workers have 90 minutes to devote to their building project. Sometimes it is as little as 45 minutes, but the goal is the same as it has been for 10 years. By the end of the school year they will have a three-bedroom, 1,050-square-foot house ready for Habitat for Humanity. (Read the rest at CJOnline.com)

 

Ready to work with hammers and nails, students and teachers from Washburn Rural High School began building a house for Habitat for Humanity this past weekend.

Students started the project at 711 S.E. Chandler, working Thursday and Friday. Faculty and staff were invited to work Saturday while students took the day off.

"It's a way to teach kids to volunteer," said Clif Hess, industrial technology teacher.

WRHS students have helped build a house for Habitat every year for the past nine years. Hess said this year was particularly meaningful because the current location is down the street from the first house they built.

The owner of that house remembered Hess and stopped by to visit with him and the students. Hess said he remembered meeting the owner's then 10-year-old son and putting the house on hold to play catch. (Read the rest at CJOnline.com)