January 16, 2008
Contact: Caroline Jenkins Hanna
Director of Media Relations
413/542-8417
AMHERST, Mass.—Amherst College and the Pioneer Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity will mark the completion of a new home in the region with a celebration on Sunday, Jan. 20. The event will start at 3 p.m. at the completed house near the corner of Southeast St. and Stanley St. in Amherst and will feature an open house with the new owner, Kathy Perry; tours of the new home; and a dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. The entire celebration is free and open to the public.
Amherst College donated a total of three acres of land for the construction of the home and three additional houses, which will all go to low-income residents of the town of Amherst. Construction of the finished house began in the fall of 2006. Students from Amherst, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and members of the Amherst community, among others, contributed their time and energy to the project.
Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity, the local chapter of the national group, serves the Hampshire and Franklin County area. Pioneer Valley Habitat is an ecumenical housing ministry dedicated to building homes in partnership with families in need and enabling the families to buy their houses through no-profit, zero-interest mortgages. More information is available at www.pioneervalleyhabitat.org.
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