In the New Year, Habitat Wake is seeking weekday volunteers to help build homes in Johnston County.

Typically during winter months Habitat experiences a dearth of critical volunteer labor. Habitat Wake recently expanded to serve Johnston County in addition to Wake County, and needs volunteers more than ever to help build two homes in Selma.

More than 17,000 families in Johnston County lack affordable housing. Habitat Wake is partnering with community members, corporations and local churches with the goal of eventually building five homes a year in Johnston County. Habitat Wake has built one home since the merger in January 2018 — homeowner Rebecca Morgan and her three children closed on their affordable Habitat home July of this year, the first Habitat home built in Johnston County since 2002.

Each Habitat home requires 15 volunteers each day, or 450 volunteers total, in order to be completed on schedule. Volunteers do not need to have construction experience.

The two Selma homes will begin construction in January, the most difficult time of year to find volunteers. Weekdays are particularly difficult spots to fill.

“We hope people will be excited about taking on a new challenge in the New Year and join us by volunteering on the build site,” said Habitat Wake President/CEO Kevin Campbell. “It is a truly rewarding experience to know your work will help someone build a better future for their family.”

To sign up to volunteer or to learn more about what a day on the construction site looks like, visit habitatwake.org/volunteer.

Habitat Wake is also seeking homeowners for these two Selma homes. For more information about applying to purchase a Habitat home, visit habitatwake.org/apply. 2016 file photo