How RMANJ Helped Turn One Deserving Family's House Into A Home

On the morning of Friday, October 19, a group of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey (RMANJ) doctors and staff all did something a little different.

They didn’t put 140 Allen Road into their GPS, and they didn’t go to work in Basking Ridge, where they help couples and individuals from all over New Jersey start or complete their families with assisted reproductive services like Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

Instead, they drove to Passaic, NJ, and parked their cars on Howe Avenue. Dressed in work boots, paint-stained sweaters and worn out jeans, they all walked into a dilapidated home in need of repair and asked how they could help.

It was just after 8:30 a.m., and the RMANJ team was ready to get their hands dirty volunteering for Habitat for Humanity of Morris County, which was working to refurbish the Howe Ave home for its new tenants: a single mother and her three young boys.

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There were three main tasks for the day: get the backyard in shape for a new layer of grass, demolish the kitchen ceiling, and do some siding work. The work was difficult, the day was long, but the reward was immeasurable: helping a deserving family turn a house into a home. We asked participating RMANJ volunteers about their favorite moment of the day.

Here’s what they said:

Dr. Michael Drews

My favorite part of the day was looking at our days’ effort, seeing how we all worked to help change that deserted house into someone’s home. I kept thinking about that 5-year-old boy, and how I hoped he would get the wonderful life he deserved – with fond memories of growing up in that house, when he’s an old man.

Dr. Doreen Hock

My favorite part of the day was helping to turn a house into a home where a little boy can play in his yard.

Christina Maloney

My favorite part of the day was the reason we were there - helping a family! I was honored to be a part of this and can’t wait for another!

Vera Zecchino

My favorite moment was when I walked around the house, both inside and outside, thinking how this single mom and her three children will be creating/transforming this house into their “home,” and the memories that will be made for years to come.

Olesia Plokhii

My favorite moment was seeing local kids walking by the house on the way to and from school, and imagining the kids that would own the house doing the same thing – but instead of passing the gorgeous structure, going in – and knowing that’s home.

Anne Tepper

Habitat has given me the opportunity to follow in my mother’s footsteps. Despite working full time and bringing up a family, she always devoted time to helping people. Each Habitat I learn a new skill and it’s very gratifying to know my small contributions help build a home for a hard working family. Another benefit is working with members of my RMA family who I don’t see on a daily basis and some who I probably would never meet if not for Habitat.

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All photos courtesy of RMANJ