Maris Grove resident offers ‘sweat equity’ to Habitat for Humanity

By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE 

It started by building a dollhouse. And it grew into a passion.

A request from a neighbor to build a sample dollhouse to help promote Habitat for Humanity programs was the beginning of Gene Massey’s dedication to the nonprofit organization’s New Castle, Del., chapter.

Since 1996, The Maris Grove resident has volunteered one day per week, helping to construct 89 houses in Wilmington, Del.

“When you dedicate the house and hand the family the keys to their new home, you experience firsthand their joy of home ownership,” Massey says.

A helpful hobby
Retired after working for 38 years in chemical marketing at Hercules in Wilmington, he learned more about the organization and soon found himself part of a team of volunteers building houses for families in need throughout the city.

The mission of Habitat for Humanity is to build affordable housing at no profit through a combination of volunteer labor, “sweat equity,” and no-interest mortgages. The organization strives to develop and empower individuals through the construction of simple, decent homes, to make the dream of home ownership come true by building almost 20 houses per year.

Great intentions
Times have changed since Massey’s first Habitat project at an old Wilmington row house located near the Pennsylvania Railroad. The renovation included digging out the original dirt cellar to expand the basement, rewiring electric, painting, and installing a brand new kitchen, he says.

Today, Habitat constructs new homes from the ground up, using donations of volunteer time, building materials, and land or abandoned homes acquired from the city.