Pemi-Valley Habitat Finalist For Clarence Jordan Award for Hedstrom Way Project in Bristol

Published Date

BRISTOL — Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity has been selected as one of four finalists for the Habitat for Humanity International Clarence E. Jordan Award.
Two award recipients are recognized for creativity and innovation in their affiliate operations. The award honors the legacy of Clarence Jordan, the founder of Koinonia Farm, a religious community in southwest
Georgia, where the idea for Habitat for Humanity was born.
Award recipients are selected by affiliate voting. Pemi-Valley Habitat was selected as a finalist for its
Hedstrom Way project in Bristol. Currently, there are more than 1,500 Habitat affiliates in the U.S.
The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority purchased property on Route 3A in Bristol six years ago with the purpose of having Pemi-Valley Habitat build a home on the land. However, the costs for the site-work made the project unaffordable.
After formulating plans for a four home sub-division, Pemi-Valley Habitat applied for and became the first N.H. Habitat affiliate to receive a Community Development Block Grant, which is being used to complete the site work and the land purchase. Pemi-Valley Habitat's match for the $266,000 grant is the
construction of the four homes.
Four families have been selected to received these Habitat homes. The site work was finished in November and the first of the four homes is nearing completion.
This project is named in memory of the Reverend Douglas Hedstrom, former pastor of the Bristol United Church of Christ, who was also a very dedicated Habitat supporter and volunteer. Hedstrom passed away suddenly on June 19, 2010 while construction of the Mastin home in Rumney was nearing completion. Rev. Hedstrom was a regular volunteer at the build site.
Pemi-Valley Habitat is in the process of raising the money to construct the four homes, its match for the CDBG grant. "We are asking the community for its support during our ongoing annual campaign," said Executive Director Brian McCarthy. "We have been presented with a tremendous opportunity to help four deserving families realize the dream of home ownership. We are also very humbled to be a finalist for the prestigious Clarence E. Jordan Award for this project."
Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity has built 26 homes for needy and deserving families in the Plymouth area. The 26th home for the Mason family on Glove Street in Ashland was completed in February, 2012. Those who would like to help, can visit www.pemivalleyhabitat.org or call 603-536-1333.