"Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend the open house," said Pete Ricker, President of the Board of Directors. "It’s a chance to visit and walk through a Habitat for Humanity home and see the results of volunteer labor, donated or discounted services and supplies, and tax-deductible community donations. Each home is a total community effort."

The home at 1554A Fairfield Road is available through a monthly, interest-free mortgage to those who qualify. Applications will be available at the open house and are also available online at www.habitatadamspa.org. The townhouse-style home features three bedrooms and includes just over 1,000 square feet of living space. The organization is breaking ground on additional houses to be built in 2013 in Gettysburg and Biglerville.

"Your group is so committed to building homes for low-income families. Your board and volunteers are such professional and caring community members," wrote a 2012 partner family recently. In a thank you letter to the board, the family continued, "We are so happy with our new home… You will never know how much you have touched our lives."

Since its inception in 1988, Adams County Habitat for Humanity has helped provide 32 homes to low-income families deserving of home ownership. Partner families invest up to 500 hours of "sweat equity" in their homes, working alongside community volunteers and skilled laborers who often donate their services in order to construct or rehabilitate the homes.

The Adams County chapter is one of 1,500 affiliate chapters throughout the U.S. and one of 2,050 Habitat for Humanity chapters world-wide. This nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry has provided more than 600,000 affordable houses to more than 3 million people since being founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976.

In Adams County, more than 300 volunteers spent nearly 1,500 hours working on houses in 2012. Hundreds of additional hours are donated to the organization annually through the work of board members. The organization is run entirely by volunteers.

The last home to be completed in 2012 is located on Maple Avenue, Biglerville. The board is extremely grateful to donors who provided the following services or materials during construction:

• Bob Crouthamel, Gettysburg, construction services
• Patrick Foltz, Carlisle, Master Brand Cabinets
• Zach Fontaine, Gettysburg, electrical services
• Chris Groft, Orrtanna, plumbing services
• Gary Hartman, Esq, Gettysburg, legal services
• Gwen Leifeld; Minneapolis, MN; Valspar Paints
• Rebecca McClear; Midland, MI; Dow Building Solutions Insulation
• Bill McDannell, Gettysburg, masonry services
• Mary Price; Benton Harbor, Michigan; Whirlpool Appliances
• Rick Rovegno, Carlisle, insulation
• Hubert Snyder, Gettysburg, architectural services and house design
• Bob Teeter, Esq, Gettysburg, legal services
• Ron Trostle, Gettysburg, flooring
• Erik Vranich, Biglerville, engineering services

Fourteen covenant churches in Adams County provide financial support and volunteer labor to the organization: Chapel Hill Church of God, York Springs; Christ Lutheran, Gettysburg; First Baptist, Gettysburg; Gettysburg Church of the Brethren, Gettysburg; Gettysburg Presbyterian, Gettysburg; Gettysburg United Methodist, Gettysburg; Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian, Gettysburg; Prince of Peace Episcopal, Gettysburg; St. Francis Xavier, Gettysburg; St. James Lutheran, Gettysburg; St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran, Littlestown; Trinity Lutheran, Arendtsville; Trinity United Church of Christ, Gettysburg; and Zion United Church of Christ, Arendtsville.

To volunteer with Adams County Habitat for Humanity, contact volunteer committee co-chairs Bob Remaley or Christopher Roan at coachremaley@comcast.net or cvrvolunteers@gmail.com.

For more information, check the new Adams County Habitat for Humanity Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adamscountyhabitat or the website at www.habitatadamspa.org or call 717-334-5557.