PAINTING … Amber Never (above) of Swanton paints a frame for one of two playhouses constructed by the Habitat of Humanity of Fulton County for its playhouse project at the Fulton County Fair.
HOUSING PROJECT … Sam Halmi (above) of Wauseon applies a coat of paint to a house frame for the Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County playhouse project on Saturday.
PHOTOS BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
LABOR DAY WEEKEND … Logan Harmon (above) uses a paint roller to apply a fresh coat of paint to a frame for the Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County playhouse project.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
It’s been a labor of love for the volunteers who are helping to build new playhouses for Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County.
Behind the support of the Fulton County Fair, volunteers representing North Star BlueScope Steel of Delta, State Farm Insurance and New Horizons Academy of Wauseon all came together as one team to construct six playhouses for local families.
It marks the third straight year the Fulton County Fair has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County for this important project.
On a perfect and cool Saturday morning, construction got underway with plenty of volunteers from across Fulton County doing their work in an area located in the grassy area at the north end of the fairgrounds.
“Every volunteer makes a difference,” pointed out Heidi Kern, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County.
“Sometimes they don’t even realize how much until they actually come out and go through whatever experience they’re volunteering for.”
The Playhouse Project, which started in 2021, always touches hearts, pulls on those heartstrings and see a few misty eyes when the reveal finally comes following construction.
This year’s playhouse sponsors include North Star BlueScope Steel; Nature Fresh Farms; Woodforest National Bank; State Farm Insurance; New Horizons Academy and the Fulton County Fair in which they also take part in the organization’s fundraising off of the project.
“For those corporate sponsors, churches, even small businesses have come out and sponsored playhouses with Habitat over the last five years,” commented Kern.
“Every single one of them looks at me before the end of their build and says, we’re doing this again. It makes such an impact not only for the children, but for the sponsors and volunteers that make it possible. And of course, they’re helping Habitat fund our mission of building big houses and repairing those.
“In the end, I always say it’s a ‘win-win-win’, the sponsor team gets to have a team bonding experience and give back to their communities. Habitat gets funding for our mission and the families served with a playhouse.”
There are six playhouses to be built at the fairgrounds, two last Saturday and four more on Tuesday, September 2.
Delta resident Kirsten Fruchey, who works at North Star BlueScope Steel and previously served as a board member of Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, was one of eleven volunteers from North Star BlueScope Steel putting in their own time and effort in the playhouse construction on Saturday.
“Honestly, it’s a great organization and it helps people provide affordable housing,” said Fruchey. “We have done the playhouse build project since its conception in 2021. So, this is our fifth year doing this.
“It’s been super fun, and my team gets to get together in an off-site setting, learn a little more about each other off-line of work, but also providing a playhouse for some kids in the community that can use it based on different needs.”
Providing her own labor, especially on Labor Day weekend, helping children whom the playhouse project benefits, Fruchey added, ‘it’s awesome’.
“To be able to come off this side of work, they’re not being paid for this,” pointed out Fruchey. “They’re doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.
“Kids are our future, so making sure they have the right resources and tools for them to become great thriving adults when they grow up.
“I love being able to have that opportunity to give these kids something else to play with and learn some different things and have a great imagination.”
Longtime volunteer Robert Nafziger of rural Wauseon who was busy getting materials around for the playhouses, reflected about his own involvement with Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County.
“It’s an important project to me with my wife being a school teacher, I’m really dedicated to the need to give stability to some kids in today’s world,” said Nafziger.
“I find a good way to do that is having a safe place to live. That’s really made me a big supporter of the organization.”
Nafizger’s own involvement with Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County began in 2005 and also served as board president.
“Habitat for Humanity is very important to me and the stability that it brings to families,” he said. “But the joy on the children’s face this afternoon (Saturday) when they show up or it’s a surprise by actually seeing a project that was designed for them in mind and something they can call their own in their backyard.
“It’s kind of a miniature version of the larger Habitat mission that providing decent housing. It encourages you in life to continue to do the proper thing.”
There were 28 volunteers (young and old) involved with the Playhouse project on Saturday including the Jason and Melissa Valentine family of Archbold whose three sons, Griffen, Gentry and Javery were quite busy painting playhouses for children.
Jason Hartnett of Sylvania currently serves as Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County board president says the organization is very important to him.
“It’s hugely important for me,” said Hartnett. “As a youth growing up, I didn’t have a stable home environment, so anything I can give back to the community where they can enjoy that especially young folks growing up. Having a stable home environment helps with every aspect of life.”
Hartnett has been involved with Fulton County Habitat for almost ten years and admitted that he was never a handy person until he got involved with Habitat.
“They (Habitat) took me in, and I work with them side by side,” he commented. “Not only it’s absolutely rewarding, but my skills have grown, and I’ve been able to give back at a higher capacity over the years.
“The great thing about this project is we have sponsors in the community that come out and sponsor the playhouse and bring their own volunteers.”
According to Hartnett, the importance of the Playhouse Project is they raise funding to build big houses for Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County.
“Little houses build big houses,” pointed out Hartnett. “Funding with any organization is always critical. Without projects like the playhouse build, we wouldn’t be able to fund our primary mission of building homes in the community.”
By the end of 2025, there will be 45 playhouses constructed since 2021 with 106 children being served through the Playhouse Project.