Vote for Habitat
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on August 12, 2017 11:34 AM
An Internet-based voting competition that kicks off Wednesday could help give Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne a $25,000 boost for its new home repair program.
"Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne is excited to be in the running for this award," said Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne Executive Director Matthew Whittle. "We submitted a proposal to help fund our new home repair program -- A Brush With Kindness.
"This program is designed to help existing low- to moderate-income homeowners address some of their repair needs -- those minor, exterior repairs that can really begin to breathe new life back into a home and even an entire neighborhood. We're calling this program the Building Blocks Initiative."
Just like Habitat's traditional home-building program, this is not a giveaway, Whittle said.
"But we are aiming to do this cheaper than perhaps a traditional contractor for people who can't afford to go that route," he said. "Our goal is work with homeowners to help them start to address some of the basic issues going on in their homes.
"Most of our applicants so far are trending toward elderly and can really just use a little help to remain in their homes, spruce them up, make the neighborhood look better, etc."
Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne is among the 200 finalists nationwide and one of only nine in North Carolina and the only Habitat program.
It was among the 2,000 nationwide that answered the call from State Farm Neighborhood Assist to submit causes that would make a positive impact in their neighborhoods.
State Farm Neighborhood Assist is a crowd-sourced philanthropic program that empowers communities to identify issues in their neighborhoods.
At least one cause was received from every state. The State Farm Review Committee selected the top 200 finalists.
Now Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne needs your help by voting for it to bring money to Goldsboro and Wayne County.
From Aug. 16 through Aug. 25, anyone with a valid email address can vote for their favorite cause at www.neighborhoodassist.com.
Each of the top-40 vote-getters will receive a $25,000 grant.
To vote for Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne, just go to www.neighborhoodassist.com/entry/1997736.
Each person can vote up to 10 times per day. They even have the option to cast all 10 of their votes at once for their favorite cause each day.
On Good Neighbor Day, Thursday, Sept. 28, the top 40 vote-receiving causes will be announced at www.neighborhoodassist.com and a $25,000 grant will be awarded to each of the affiliated nonprofits.
"Neighborhood Assist is another example of State Farm successfully turning caring into doing in communities all across the U.S." said Kellie Clapper, State Farm assistant vice president. "The communities themselves play an important role in inspiring people to rally and vote for these important causes."
Wayne Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne's dream is a world in which everybody has a decent place to live, Whittle said.
"Our mission is to share God's love by working with our community to give qualified, low-to moderate-income families the opportunity to become homeowners, and to begin building a better future on a new foundation of strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable shelter," he said.
Since 2001, Habitat Goldsboro-Wayne has built 75 new homes and served 79 families.
For more information, visit www.habitatgoldsboro.org or Facebook at www.facebook.com/habitat.goldsboro.