AmeriCorps NCCC build with Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity

Lawrence, MA — Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity (MVHH) welcomed a crew of six AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) team members to build with us on our Salisbury, MA project, for the second year in a row.

The crew, Noah Basehart, Avery Carlson, Edmond Foster, Grace Helton, Esperanza Jimenez and Simon Morton are aged between 18 and 24 and come from states throughout the country, and as far away as Minnesota. They are currently working alongside partner families and regular volunteers on MVHH’s project in Salisbury, MA which will comprise of seven-units of affordable housing once complete.

Noah, crew leader, joined AmeriCorps in June, 2019, recently graduated from SUNY Brockport with a degree in Exercise Science He is having a gap year, enjoying traveling around the country and making new connections. He says that "Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity Volunteers, supervisors, and staff, have all been wonderful." Esperanza, the only member in the group from Massachusetts, wanted to "join a program that created an opportunity to learn more about our country and get involved in making it a better place for us all to live in." She goes on to highlight her belief that "everyone should have a home to live in. Having a home creates a sense of safety and stability that no one should live without. It is important that homeownership is an option for everyone."

Heading into their final week of building with us, and following a total of eight weeks of building, which started in October, the AmeriCorps NCCC crew got straight to work. They have completed putting up siding, installed insulation, building stairways and finished up roofing, on three family units. They have also started the framing of the latest duplex homes in production.

"With the effort put in by the AmeriCorps NCCC members and the regular volunteers, our Salisbury project has taken a leap forward. With a total of seven units -one single house and three duplexes – to be built, we will welcome additional volunteers and funding. A lot of our volunteers are recently retired and looking to stay active and give back to the community. Habitat is a great opportunity," said Stuart Johnson, Habitat board member, regular volunteer and site supervisor.

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About Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity

Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit builder of affordable homes founded in 1985 by concerned local citizens who came together as volunteers. We are the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, the largest nonprofit homebuilder in the world with a network of over 2,100 branches. We build simple, affordable, comfortable homes in partnership with the families who need them. We have delivered on our mission for 100 families to date. To help fund our work, we opened our ReStore in Lawrence, MA, where we sell donated appliances, furniture, building materials, and home furnishings at greatly reduced prices. To donate, volunteer, or learn more, please visit merrimackvalleyhabitat.org.

About AmeriCorps

“I will get things done for America to make our people safer, smarter, and healthier. I will bring Americans together to strengthen our communities. Faced with apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Faced with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year and beyond. I am an AmeriCorps member and I will get things done.” – AmeriCorps Pledge. - This pledge dovetails with Habitat’s mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope.

AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Members commit their time to address critical community needs like increasing academic achievement, mentoring youth, fighting poverty, sustaining national parks, preparing for disasters, and more.

AmeriCorps NCCC is a full-time, residential, team-based program for young adults, age 18-24 (with no upper age limit to serve as a team leader). Members develop leadership skills and strengthen communities by completing service projects and gaining life experience. Teams, comprised of 8-10 members, complete multiple projects that address essential community needs throughout the United States. To learn more, visit www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-programs/americor....