Building Together: Commissioners, Community, Good Eats, and Habitat’s 61st Home

Another great day of building hope with Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County! At our Buchanan Trail West build site in Greencastle, the Franklin County Commissioners joined us on the worksite for the very first time as construction volunteers. Often present at dedications, we thank Commissioner Dean Horst, Chair, Commissioner John Flannery, Vice Chair, and Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski, Secretary, for modeling service and leadership.

This is our 61st Habitat home in Franklin County, built by volunteers, and its foundation rests on more than just wood, nails, and concrete. Each year, the commissioners allocate Housing Trust Funds to Habitat, helping us purchase building lots, including this very lot in Greencastle. Their investment in affordable housing strengthens the fabric of our community, but today their investment went beyond dollars. With power tools in hand, the commissioners helped bring the dream of homeownership one step closer for our local homebuying family.

Among the projects they tackled was the installation of a very special “Jimmy Carter” door, an enduring symbol of Habitat’s values of faith in action, compassion, and the belief that everyone deserves a safe and decent place to live. Earlier this year, donors signed their names on the Carter door as part of a campaign that helped make this home a reality. President Carter’s legacy reminds us that building homes is about more than shelter; it’s about building hope.

Our work is always a community effort, and today we felt that spirit deeply. A huge thank you to Lizzy’s, the nearby restaurant that provided a delicious meal to keep our crew fueled and energized. Local businesses like Lizzy’s remind us that generosity takes many forms, and that every act of kindness, whether swinging a hammer or cooking a meal, helps make Habitat’s mission possible.

Together, elected officials, businesses, volunteers, and donors are writing the next chapter of affordable housing in Franklin County. Every hand makes a difference. Every gift builds hope. And every partner brings us closer to a future where everyone has a safe, decent place to call home.