Pemi-Valley Habitat (PVH) was started by Ashland resident
Susan Wei and other members of the Plymouth community in
1985. The local founders were inspired by several
presentations and dialog with Millard and Linda Fuller
(Habitat’s Founders) before the Fullers went to Africa in
1973 (Click on “More on Habitat International” for more
information).
PVH was originally a chapter of New Hampshire Habitat for
Humanity, the umbrella for all Habitat activities in the
state in the early years. Each chapter was semi-autonomous,
but there was one state board which managed all
contributions. On January 1, 1994, PVH became an affiliate
of Habitat International and has operated directly under its
guidelines and policies ever since, and accepting its
donations directly.
The first project was rehabilitation work for an area
resident in 1985. PVH built its first new house from 1986-88
in Ashland on donated land. From 1989 to 1998, the affiliate
built nine houses, moved one and renovated a third.
In 2000, PVH had a “banner year” in which it finished one
home and built two more under special programs; one was a
“sponsored” house for which the construction was managed and
funded by CCI (an area construction firm) and the Common Man
Family of Restaurants. The other house was a
Governor’s/First Lady’s Build featuring assistance from
then-Governor Jean Shaheen. HFHI partially sponsored one of
these builds in each state, and PVH was invited to do New
Hampshire’s. PVH employed a female construction supervisor
and had over 90 women volunteer along with men.
At about this time, many long-standing board members’ terms
were complete and there was a large turnover in board
membership. In 2001, one moved house was completed and in
2003 a new home was completed that had been in the works for
a couple of years. In 2004, the Board hired a part-time
Administrative Assistant to help with some of the Board’s
administrative functions. The affiliate was back “up to
speed” in 2004 and 2005 with one house completed by
Christmas each year. No build took place in 2006, due to
lack of available land. Once PVH was able to purchase some
reasonably price property, building was back to a regular
schedule, with homes completed in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
While the construction of homes is the most visible work of
Habitat, and the area that takes the most volunteers and
donations, there is a tremendous amount of work required by
PVH’s Board and Committees. The Committees handle Family
Selection, Family Partnership, Publicity, Fundraising,
Volunteer coordination, Construction and Site Selection as
well as Board nominations and Church Relations. The Board
oversees committee work, sets Policy and makes strategic
decisions.
The ingredients essential to PVH’s on-going success are: an
inventory of affordable land, enthusiastic donors and
volunteers and a supply of willing board and committee
members to oversee the tasks of this mostly volunteer
organization. Will you join us?
Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity
Current Board Members
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