Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, OK

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Shawnee Habitat for Humanity History

by Pat Terry

Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee History by Pat Terry

History. HFHS was organized under the leadership of Dr. Rick McClatchy, then pastor of University Baptist Church, in the summer of 1994. The group incorporated, elected a Board of Directors and was granted Affiliate status on June 1, 1995 with HFH International.

Prior to receiving Affiliate status, volunteers painted five houses for Shawnee citizens and repaired a number of others. Once approved as an Affiliate, fund raising and construction planning began in earnest. The first project was an existing house that had to be completely gutted before reconstruction began.

Since then, all houses have been new construction. A total of ten homes have been provided for partner families. In addition, Habitat volunteers during summer 1998 worked with the Shawnee Community Development office and painted ten homes.

One of the early homes built was in honor of the father of Wade Hayes, country music entertainer from Bethel. Hayes, Wal-Mart and Sony, Inc. provided $40,000 for its construction and Hayes came to Shawnee for its dedication. Habitat received wide public recognition as a result of this gift and a concert given by Hayes at the Shawnee Expo Center.

In 1999 another house was funded by a gift from John and Gloria Slavens. The W. P. Wood Trust, a local organization, also made a major gift to HFHS during its early years. White Lumber Company has donated numerous materials and sells additional materials to Habitat at cost.

The annual Fiesta Dinner was begun in March 1997 to raise funds and publicize the work of Habitat. Other donations have come from Shawnee individuals, churches and businesses.

Moving forward. An eleventh partner family has been selected. The family has over 100 hours of sweat equity completed and construction of their home will begin soon. Two additional building sites have been given, and the Family Selection Committee has approved the twelfth family.

Posted 2/9/09

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History of Habitat for Humanity International

The concept that grew into Habitat for Humanity was born at Koinonia Farm, a small, interracial, Christian farming community founded in 1942 outside of Americus, Ga., by farmer and biblical scholar Clarence Jordan. Millard and Linda Fuller first visited Koinonia in 1965, having recently left a successful business in Montgomery and all the trappings of an affluent lifestyle to begin a new life of Christian service. At Koinonia, Jordan and Fuller developed the concept of “partnership housing,” where those in need of adequate shelter would work side by side with volunteers to build simple, decent houses.

The houses would be built with no profit added and no interest charged. Building would be financed by a revolving Fund for Humanity. The fund’s money would come from the new homeowners’ house payments, donations and no-interest loans provided by supporters and money earned by fund-raising activities. The money in the Fund for Humanity would be used to build more houses.

In 1968, Koinonia laid out 42 half-acre house sites with four acres reserved as a community park and recreational area. Capital was donated from around the country to start the work. Homes were built and sold to families in need at no profit and no interest. The basic model of Habitat for Humanity was begun.

In September, 1976, the Fullers called together a group of supporters to discuss the future of their dream. Habitat for Humanity International was born at this meeting. The eight years that followed, vividly described in Millard Fuller’s book Love in the Mortar Joints, proved that the vision of a housing ministry was workable.

In 1984, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn took their first Habitat work trip, the Jimmy Carter Work Project, to New York City. Their personal involvement in Habitat’s ministry brought the organization national visibility and sparked interest in Habitat’s work across the nation.

Through the work of Habitat, thousands of low-income people have found new hope in the form of affordable housing. Churches, community groups, and others have joined together to successfully tackle a significant social problem--decent housing for all.

Today, Habitat for Humanity has built over 300,000 houses, sheltering more than 1.5 million people in more than 3,000 communities worldwide.

History Bullets:1994:

Incorporation:
In July 1994, Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee incorporated and elected its first volunteer board of directors. The board helped to coordinate a community Paint Pals project to paint the homes of low-income homeowners.
1995:

Affiliate Status:
In June 1995, Habitat for Humanity International granted the Shawnee organization affiliate status.
1997:

First Fiesta Dinner:
The affiliate raised over $4,300 thanks to 190 volunteers who cooked and served 750 Habitat supporters.
First house (renovation), North Broadway
Donors and volunteers from throughout the community provided the funds, supplies and labor for this house.
1998:

Second house, North Market:
Country music entertainer and Bethel OK native Wade Hayes partnered with Wal-Mart and Sony, Inc. to provide the $40,000 for construction materials for this house which was completed in July 1998.
1999:

Third house, West Franklin:
The price of the lot was donated by Tom and Phyllis Flora. Over 1800 volunteer hours were devoted by churches, schools, individuals, and the partner family to complete this house in December 1999.
2000:

Fourth house, North Market:
Gloria Slavens and her late husband John donated the funds to build this house.
2002:

Fifth house, East 11^th Street:
Completed in March, 2002. Several OBU athletic teams provided volunteers.
Sixth house, South Park:
Gordon Cooper Technology Center Residential and Commercial Construction students got this house "in the dry."
2003:

The 7^th Annual Habitat Fiesta Dinner & Silent Auction:
The 2003 Fiesta generated over $8,000 bringing the total amount of Fiesta proceeds since 1997 to $55,000.
2004:

Seventh house, East Wayne
Habitat becomes a member of the Greater Shawnee Area Chamber of Commerce.
Tenth Anniversary of Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, Ok.
2005:

Eighth House started, North Union

2006:

Eighth House finished, North Union
Ninth House Started, South Osage
2007

Ninth House Finished, South Osage
Tenth House Finished, South Pottenger

2009

Annual Habitat Fiesta Dinner & Silent Auction
11th home started, on Shamrock Ct.

Posted 3/24/05, Updated 4/30/09

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Habitat for Humanity of Shawnee, OK