The Volunteering Page of Michael Swinford

FAMILY AND CURRENT HOUSING
On an April morning in 2015, Randa Fair did something she describes as being a bit out of the ordinary for her - and it forever changed the course of her life. That morning, Randa decided to get a copy of the Times Reporter newspaper. In that particular issue an article was written highlighting the work of Habitat for Humanity East Central Ohio. After reading the story, Randa remembers thinking to herself, “I’m perfect for this!” At the time, Randa was living in Jaycee Villas, a low-income housing community in Uhrichsville. Because of the overly cramped quarters, Randa decided to move while waiting to see if she would be accepted into the Habitat program. Unfortunately, Randa’s new home is not much better as she and her kids now live on the top floor of a triplex with structural issues of its own. In addition to only having two small bedrooms, the foundation of the home is crumbling which has resulted in buckling walls and sloping floors throughout. The unit is only accessible via a steep, rickety outdoor staircase that poses a safety concern for Randa’s family, especially in inclement weather conditions. Although their living situation is less than ideal, Randa and her children do their best to make it home while waiting to build their new Habitat house. The family enjoys riding bikes and spending time at the nearby park. Fourteen year old Jaimie is an avid softball player and enjoys pitching for her team. Lucas, who is nine, loves video games and hopes to someday design and make his own games.

A BRIGHT FUTURE
Now that she has been accepted into the Habitat program, Randa eagerly awaits the day that work on her new home begins. In the meantime, she has invested numerous hours on worksites, at ReStore, and completing the House2Home education classes to fulfill her sweat equity requirements. Although Randa can be a bit shy, she was able to bond with other families in the program and learn useful skills during the financial, maintenance, and personal wellness courses. In addition to completing the weekly Habitat requirements, Randa works at Peoples Services, Inc. in Navarre as a warehouse coordinator. Soon, all of Randa’s efforts will pay off and she will be the homeowner she dreamed she would be that day while reading the newspaper. When asked what she looks forward to most, Randa replied “being able to decorate and really make a home for myself and my children to grow old in.”