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Widow’s Critical Repair Perfect Model for Habitat-Church Partnership

Cynthia poses with her volunteers.

The need is great, and costly to meet. You and your spouse worked hard to own your home. But, what do you do when you have a safety issue that requires a repair that, in your senior years, you can’t afford to make?

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Dayton’s Critical Repair Program may be able to help. Part of the program is the “Faith Family Fixes,” where a church can respond to a critical need for a local resident on its own or with another faith group.

A perfect example of how that works is the recent critical repair at the home of Springfield’s Cynthia Harshaw. Cynthia was shopping at Habitat’s new Springfield ReStore, 2990 Derr Rd., when she was introduced to the program, applied and waited. She needed a repair on her back deck stairs, which were so unsafe that she couldn’t use them. Habitat needed to find the funding to cover the materials for the repair.

Stepping up to provide the funding was Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield.

“It is wonderful gift to receive something like this,” she said. “It was so exciting for me, to know that the Lord would take care of me like this. I want to send them a nice thank you card.”

You’re welcome, but no thanks is necessary, said Grace Pastor Tom Brodbeck.

“Our church has a long history of being actively engaged in filling the needs of the community since its beginnings and this was a lady who looked like someone who needed our help,” he said. “We were happy to do it for her. Grace has been on board with Habitat since its earliest stages and has enjoyed this partnership over these many years.”

Cynthia spoke about how difficult it was for her to find help.

“I’ve been through so many different avenues trying to get help and couldn’t find any,” she said. “Insurances don’t do as much for you when you are retired. When we get older, we have illness and can’t do the things we once could. Habitat and the church have been a godsend for me. As long as people are patient, they can get some help with Habitat. This was God’s timing. It was nothing but the Lord.”

Our volunteers not only did the repair. They educated her as well and pitched in and helped on another project inside the home.

“I have gotten some great pointers to take care of my home better,” she said. “Sometimes workers aren’t as patient like that. A lot of time, in my experience, contractors don’t like women asking questions.”

Cynthia is so thankful for the Habitat ReStore coming into her neighborhood.

“I love it. I can just do my whole house over, plus the people are wonderful there,” she said. “People are ready to donate. This store is so beautiful. When I talk to people, I tell them that Habitat is helping me get my home restored. There’s so many wonderful things in there. It’s been a blessing to me.”

Others around her are taking notice.

  • AES Ohio Foundation
    AES Ohio Foundation

    2022 Gala Sponsor

  • Assurant Logo
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  • Be Hope Church Logo
    Be Hope Church Logo
  • Birch Creek Wealth Management

    2022 Platinum Gala Sponsor

  • Brady Ware and Company

    2022 Gala Sponsor

  • CareSource
  • Carr Supply of Dayton
  • Center Point Energy Foundation
    Center Point Energy Foundation
  • Charles Simms Development
    Charles Simms Development
  • City of Dayton
  • City of Fairborn
  • City of Kettering
    City of Kettering
  • City of Miamisburg
  • City of New Carlisle
  • City of Springfield
  • City of Vandalia
  • CityWide Development
  • Clark County Land Bank
  • Collins Aerospace
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    CRANE Logo
  • Dayton Energy Collaborative
  • The Dayton Foundation
    The Dayton Foundation
  • Dayton Youth Build
  • Dupont logo
  • Ernst Concrete
  • 5/3 Bank
    5/3 Bank
  • Five Rivers Health Centers
  • FHLB Cincinnati
    FHLB Cincinnati
  • Fischer Homes
    Fischer Homes
  • Greater Edgemont Community Coalition
  • Green Prairie Turft
  • GoKeyless
  • Help Build Hope
  • Huntington Bank
  • Kettering Family Philanthropies
  • Key Bank Logo
    Key Bank Logo
  • Lowes
  • Mathile Family foundation
  • Messer Construction
  • Northwest Fidelity Title
  • Peerless Technologies
  • PNC Foundation
    PNC Foundation
  • Reliable Electric
  • Restoration Park logo
  • Reynolds and Reynolds Associate Foundation
    Reynolds and Reynolds Associate Foundation
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    RSM
  • Sisters of the Precious Blood
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    2022 Diamond Gala Sponsor

  • Synergy Build Systems
  • State of Ohio Development Department
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  • Wright Patt Credit Union
    Wright Patt Credit Union

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