As we all know, there’s no better place to call “home” than Swannanoa and the Swannanoa Valley. And thanks to the efforts of countless donors and volunteers, Swannanoa’s new Habitat for Humanity community will soon be home to 17 families, all of whom will be fulfilling a dream of owning their own house in a safe and affordable neighborhood. A few of the homes in Swannanoa’s new Habitat community are already finished, and many more are under construction. Work on the last few houses is scheduled to begin this spring. By the time all 17 homes are complete later this fall, the former Beacon ball field – which is the site of the Habitat community – will once again be a place where family memories are made.
Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS), in partnership with Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, is inviting the Swannanoa and Swannanoa Valley communities to come together to help fund and build one of the remaining homes in the Habitat neighborhood. This is undoubtedly a big task to undertake, but our neighbors have very big hearts, and we’re confident that the Valley will rally to get the job done. In the end, we will have helped to build a house that will be “home” to generations of Swannanoa families, and that will stand as a lasting tribute to the spirit and generosity of our community.
At this point, you’re probably asking yourself, “What can I do to help?” Read on!
Help build the house – Construction on the Sweet Home Swannanoa house will begin on Tuesday, March 25. Volunteer crews will work on the house Tuesday – Saturday, from approximately 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., through early June. You can volunteer for as little as a single day, but be forewarned – working on a Habitat house makes you feel so good, that you may find yourself wanting to come back for more! No experience is required; Habitat will provide the necessary tools and teach you how to use them. Several days have been designated as community workdays, including a major event on Saturday, May 31, that will include 30 volunteers, a lunchtime celebration, and more! To sign up for one of the community workdays, please click here. For more information about volunteer opportunities, call Stephanie Wallace, Habitat Volunteer Coordinator, at 210-3983. We hope to see you at the jobsite!
Come to the “wall raising” – On Friday, March 28, at 12 noon, the whole community is 
invited to join in the celebration as the first wall on the Sweet Home Volunteers raise the first wall of a Habitat house. Swannanoa house is raised and secured into place. You can roll up your sleeves and help raise the wall, or cheer from the sidelines. Either way, you’re guaranteed to “catch the spirit” and leave with a smile on your face. Even if you can’t participate in the Sweet Home Swannanoa project in any other way, we hope you’ll be there on March 28 to show your support.
Donate to help “Adopt A Lot” – Several residents and supporters of Swannanoa, including two FANS Board members, have already stepped forward to fund the cost of the “sticks and bricks” that will become the Sweet Home Swannanoa house. Now we need to help pay for the land. Our goal is to raise $7,500 from the community to “adopt” the lot on which the Sweet Home Swannanoa house will be built. Two generous anonymous donors have agreed to match donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis. This means that every dollar you give will actually be worth two dollars. And if we achieve our goal of $7,500 in total donations from the community, Habitat will receive $15,000, covering the entire cost of the lot! Any amount you can give, no matter how small, will bring us closer to our goal. Please click here to make a secure online donation; under “Area of Support” select “Sweet Home Swannanoa Adopt A Lot” from the drop-down menu.
Spread the word – Help us get the word out about the Sweet Home Swannanoa community project. Tell your friends and neighbors and encourage them to get involved. Talk to your churches and community groups about how they can help. Encourage your kids to raise money in their neighborhood and through their school. Together, we can make a difference!
If you have questions about the Sweet Home Swannanoa project, or would like to learn more about how you, or your church or community group, can help, please call Betsy Warren, Sponsorship Coordinator, at 210-9363. If you’d like to learn more about Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, please click here.