On a chilly winter morning this past Friday, Habitat volunteers, donors and local leaders gathered at the Cumberland Build site in Lebanon for the official start of construction on three future Habitat homes.
Activity on the build site over 
the past months had been limited to sub-contracted demolition work, clearing the properties of the fire-damaged interiors and repairing the roofs. But Friday marked a very important moment in the renovation of the homes… it was the first day that Habitat volunteers rolled up their sleeves and got to work.
The Cumberland Build is Habitat’s most ambitious renovation project to date. All three properties on the 400 block of Cumberland Street were severely damaged in a fire in 2016, followed by another in 2017. The latter was deemed the City of Lebanon’s worst fire in 30 years.
Despite the properties’ tragic past, the occasion on Friday was a joyous one. The start of work was celebrated by a blessing of the home, a tour of the properties and the chance for guests to share well wishes to the future homebuyers by writing a special note on the structures’ foundation–a construction tradition that Habitat volunteers enjoy.
Future homebuyer Ronnie reviewed plans for his Cumberland Street home with Habitat’s Director of Construction, Jim Eberly, and then got to work alongside the crew volunteering that day. But, not before he added his own special note to a beam on the first floor of his future home.
To volunteer for the Cumberland Street Build, please contact our volunteer manager Jacquie Morges at [email protected] or visit our to learn how to get started.