Habitat for Humanity volunteers with power tools have been busy at 19th and Hubbard St. in Great Bend, bringing the non-profit organization’s next construction project to life.

While the concrete foundation was poured earlier this summer, the construction officially started on Sept. 17 and 18 when contractor Andy Mingenback, owner of Brentwood Builders, partnered with volunteers from UPS to start the framing. By the end of the weekend, all of the walls were up and the roof trusses were in place. Since then, windows and doors also help make the project look like the home it will soon become. Water barrier fabric has been put in place until the siding and shingles are added.

"We heard about this project during their annual Barton County’s Got Talent fundraiser last January," Mingenback said. "I wanted to do all I could to make it happen, so my crew and I have been helping every weekend to get the house weathered in and will continue to oversee the volunteers’ progress until its completion."

Habitat for Humanity’s board of directors is in the process of selecting the partner family who will purchase this home from the organization, said David Hart, co-chairman of the Habitat board. "We provide families with brand new homes on a 30-year, interest free mortgage when they might not be able to acquire traditional lending," he said. "Partner families must put in volunteer hours on the project, so we’ll hold off on finishing the construction completely until the new family can start helping out."

Anyone interested in learning more about becoming a partner family or a project volunteer may contact Habitat for Humanity at 3600 Broadway in Great Bend by e-mailing habitatbartoncounty@hotmail.com or by calling the Dominican Sisters, 620-792-1232.