Habitat for Humanity of Montezuma County is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and on Sunday, it dedicated a new home to local family Deidre and Ian Garfield and their two sons.
The Montezuma Habitat has dedicated five houses since its inception in 2008 and done numerous house repairs around the county, enabled by donations of materials, money and volunteer time.
The Garfields’ new home is the first that the organization has built from the ground up. The other four homes have been the results of renovation projects.
Molly Greenlee, executive director of Montezuma Habitat, says volunteers constituted a majority of the labor hours at the construction site for the Garfields’ new home at 35 E. 12th St. in Cortez.
Construction at Habitat sites is overseen by official supervisors so that buildings comply with local regulations. Greenlee said the supervision also provides volunteers an opportunity to learn how to do renovations and in-home construction themselves, in case they want to build their own cabinets or install their own tile flooring, for example.
Greenlee says the new home marks a turning point for the organization, which plans to build one new home each year over the next 12 years.
The organization relies on donations of property, labor, materials and expertise, and many local organizations supported Habitat’s most recent effort.
Four Corners Materials, based in Farmington, donated concrete for the new property’s driveway and sidewalk.
Sparks Heating and Plumbing, based north of Cortez, donated labor and materials for this project and other Habitat builds. CMT JR, LLC donated the lot, among other gifts to Habitat Montezuma over the years.
Aragorn Enterprises LLC donated general contractor services and fees to the project. Magnum Construction Inc. of Cortez and Atmos Energy of Durango also donated services.
Volunteers and donors can call the Habitat for Humanity of Montezuma County 565-8312,or email Habitat at director@habitatmontezuma.org. The organization’s website provides additional information about repairs, builds and ownership.
cpape@the-journal.com
