HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF MARIPOSA COUNTY OFFICIALLY BROKE GROUND ON ITS FIRST HOME LAST SATURDAY MORNING. PICTURED, FROM LEFT, ARE HFH PRESIDENT BOB PICKARD, PARTNER FAMILY MEMBERS ANTHONY, RON, MARSHA, JESSICA, JAMES AND JACOB HOLL, MARIPOSA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS CHAIRMAN KEVIN CANN AND PASTOR JOHN VANGORKOM. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER Mariposa County’s first Habitat for Humanity (HFH) home is officially under construction. The organization broke ground on the project on Aug. 28, with the appropriate ceremony.

HFH President Bob Pickard opened the festivities. He noted the work that had already been done to get the project to this point. “This is just the beginning of a lot of things we want to accomplish,” he said. “These are partnerships on which community trust can be built. We couldn’t be more grateful.”

The home, which is being built on donated land on Sebastopol Road, will be home to the Holl family: Ron, Marsha, Anthony, James, Jacob and Jessica. This is the organization’s first home construction project in Mariposa County. It was made possible through the support of local individuals, businesses, service organizations, churches and community volunteers, including the Johnson Foundation and the Dudleys, who donated the land. The organization hopes this is the first of many homes built by HFH to “create simple, affordable housing for the community.”

MARSHA AND RON HOLL, THE HFH PARTNER FAMILY, SING ALONG DURING SATURDAY’S GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY. GAZETTE PHOTO BY JILL BALLINGER The Holls joined the dignitaries and HFH volunteers on stage for the ceremony. HFH volunteer Judy Evelyn talked about the work the family has already done to make their new home a reality. She said the Holls were required to put in 25 hours of pre-construction “sweat equity.” The family has already logged more than 100 hours.

Ron Holl spoke only briefly on behalf of his family. “It’s real awesome to see God at work in this community,” he said of the effort.

Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Kevin Cann said the project is about more than building a house. “Today represents a maturing, a blossoming of our community,” he said. “We’re taking a major step up that chain of achievement. This is a clear manifestation of Mariposa as a community.”

Cann said everyone should take note of what HFH has already accomplished, especially in light of the economic, social and emotional values of a family owning its own home. “The community owes a great debt to the group that had the vision and the drive to nurture this concept that is now a reality,” he said.

According to Casey Lund of HFH, the project is awaiting the completion of a lot split, then construction plans will be submitted to the building department. Lund said the organization is planning on a 16-week build cycle and will rely heavily on volunteers and many Saturdays on the job.

Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, Christian housing ministry that works to eliminate poverty housing around the world and to make adequate housing a matter of conscience and action. “Habitat welcomes to the table partners from any faith, or from no faith, who are willing to pick up a hammer to help improve the lives of families needing decent shelter,” the mission statement reads.

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