CENTENNIAL HOUSE PROJECT
“What better way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the state of Oklahoma than with a good old fashion barn raising, says Larry Buck, Centennial Committee chairman. One hundred years ago people came together as a community to build a neighbor’s home, and that spirit is still alive and well in Ponca City today”. The Centennial House project is a community event.
To commemorate the pioneer spirit of Oklahoma; United Way and AmeriCorps, Habitat for Humanity, the Chamber of Commerce, the Community Volunteer Center, and the city of Ponca City are partnering to build a home for a working single mom with two children. This is the first project to be endorsed by the Centennial Committee for the yearlong centennial celebration.
The community-wide effort will begin on October 28th, National Make a Difference Day and end on November 19, 2006. Teams of volunteers from businesses, organizations and churches are needed to help on Saturdays and Sundays to complete the house. The trades people will be there during the week donating their time and materials. Wells Plumbing, Welborn Electric, PC Concrete, Stolhand Heat and Air, Rick Scott Construction, Sober Brothers, Justin Sober Concrete, Frontier Siding and many more.
“Our goal is for the family to celebrate Thanksgiving in their new home, says Julia Henderson, volunteer general contractor. “It will take the whole community to build a house in 4 weeks. The trades people and businesses are donating labor and materials, and we need volunteers working under trained supervision to swing the hammers, help with framing, taping, paint and finish work to complete our Centennial Project.” Volunteers are also needed to help coordinate meals for workers, registration, and more.
Donations of goods and services are being secured and volunteers are signing up. The United Way Community Volunteer Center is coordinating the volunteer efforts. Companies or departments can sign up as a group and then individuals can go to www.unitedwayponcacity.org, click on the Volunteer icon and sign up to help, call 765.2476 or come to United Way at 205 N. 2nd Street.
For more information on the Centennial House Project, call 765.2476.