Standing on the freshly poured foundation for Habitat for Humanity’s next home in the 700 block of E. Polk Street, volunteers learned that the Lamar County United Way’s 2023 fundraising campaign has reached 60% of its goal: to date 346,323 US dollars were pledged from the target of 575,000 dollars.
Habitat for Humanity is one of 19 nonprofits supported by the United Way and is giving $20,000 to the agency, which builds homes for the underprivileged.
Executive Director Judy Martin welcomed the group and encouraged those interested to lend a hand in building the home.
“We’re ready to rock and roll and start building,” Martin said as she introduced Habitat board members at the meeting. “We’re just really excited to have you come here this morning, and we’re excited to come back any Saturday or Monday to volunteer or see our progress.”
In Executive Director Jenny Wilson’s absence due to illness, campaign cabinet members Kling Chitwood of Kimberly-Clark and Candace Davidson of First Federal Community Bank gave a mid-campaign report.
Commercial division is 104% of goal with $104,157 of $100,000 pledged; Government Division is at 50% of goal with $9,971.56 pledged out of $20,000; Industrial Division, 18% of goal with $40,466 pledged of $225,000; Business/Professional division up 103% from $108,243 from $105,000; Health care up 72% from $39,810 to $55,000; and Mail Contact/Other by 71% at $17,710 from $25,000. On the school division side, Paris iSD reports $18,170 of the $20,000 pledged to date and North Lamar ISD reports $4,795 of the $15,000 budgeted to date.
The next reporting meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 9 at Tailored Rides Equine Assisted Therapy, 384 CR 42520.