On October 1, 1986, the newly established Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity was officially recognized by Habitat for Humanity International as an approved affiliate. Its mission was clear: to bring people together to build homes, community, and hope. Forty years later, that mission continues.
Since 1986, Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity, with support from thousands of volunteers, donors and community partners, has built more than 285 homes, helped hundreds of local families become first-time homebuyers, and served more than 300 families.
And it all began when members of the Highland Presbyterian Church congregation expressed a shared desire to make a positive impact on the community.
SEARCHING FOR A MISSION
“We knew we wanted to do something useful, but we didn’t know what,” says Mike Mumma, who along with Reverend Jim Hanna, Dick Peacock and Jake Toews, founded the Habitat affiliate in Lancaster.
When the group from Highland Presbyterian heard that Millard Fuller – co-founder of Habitat for Humanity International – was speaking in York, they decided to attend and learn more about Habitat’s mission.
Mumma recalls being drawn to Fuller’s charismatic, humorous, and compelling storytelling.
“He’d tell a story that would draw you in. And he would always inject some component of his Christian journey,” says Mumma. “So, on the way home, we thought, ‘Habitat, cool, we’ll pursue that.’ And we did.”
Mumma says he would regularly use some of Fuller’s messaging when it came time to fundraise for the Lancaster Habitat affiliate.
“One of his great lines was, ‘Building houses costs a lot of money, and we need money. We tried asking and we tried not asking. We got more when we asked.’ I’ve used that on more than one occasion,” says Mumma.
While the core group of founders was from Highland Presbyterian, they knew the local Habitat affiliate wasn’t going to be strictly a Highland project. They began reaching out to other local churches to spread the word.
“The goal was to get an eclectic board. I think we spoke at every church in Lancaster. Maybe in the county,” says Mumma.
The outreach worked, and more people became involved with the fledgling housing organization.
“Early on, I really did sense God’s hand in what we were doing and that somehow we had a special blessing,” says co-founder Jake Toews.
NAILING DOWN A BOARD
On May 1, 1986, five months before they were officially recognized by Habitat for Humanity International, the newly formed Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity board held its first meeting.
Reverend Jim Hanna began the meeting with a prayer, and then the group got down to business. They shared their visions and hopes for the local Habitat affiliate; bylaws were drawn up, committees were formed, and officers were nominated. Mumma was appointed president, Mel Hess was approved as vice president, Jake Toews as treasurer, and Dick Peacock as secretary.
Other members included in the first meeting were Willis Bucher, Ron Ford, Gilma Kreider, Hershey Lehman, Larry Stoner and Phyllis Whitesell.
“Larry Stoner was on the (Habitat) International Board and knew Millard (Fuller) really well. They had lived and served together in Africa,” says Mumma. “So, we had a good ‘in’ for getting affiliated and getting information.”
IT ALL STARTS WITH A HOME
Just a few months after the first board meeting, in August, Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity, purchased its first home on South Queen Street in Lancaster. It cost $10,000.
The board solicited volunteers and began working on the South Queen Street property, while the Family Selection committee began their search for suitable applicants.
In April of the following year, the Rosario family was selected as the first-ever Lancaster Area Habitat partner family. They lived in the South Queen Street home for many years.
That home on South Queen Street was the first of hundreds of Habitat homes in our area. And, with the 2016 merger of the Lancaster and Lebanon affiliates, our impact has grown significantly. Every Habitat home built in Lancaster and Lebanon provides local families with opportunities to lead healthier and more stable lives, send their children to college, and create generational wealth.
“I think that the (Habitat homeownership program) model struck me as being a really workable model that touches people and respects the position of the people,” says Toews. “It’s not a handout. It encourages people to take that next step.”
For Mumma, Habitat has always been about people.
“What makes me feel best (about being involved with Habitat) is to hear that some of these kids went to college, or had a family, or that they’re doing well and it all got started by having a home that they owned.”
In August of this year, Toews spoke at the 40th anniversary mural dedication ceremony at the Lancaster Habitat ReStore. During his remarks, Toews reflected on the giving nature of people from Lancaster and Lebanon counties, reaching major milestones like the creation of the Emerald Valley community and one of the first ReStores in the nation, and the area’s continued commitment to building affordable Habitat homes.
“I just feel blessed to be a part of something that has really blossomed and has continued to grow,” Toews said.