By: Lindsey Arthur, Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity—
Muncie, IN — Greater Muncie, IN Habitat for Humanity and its community partners – the Boys & Girls Club of Muncie, Muncie Public Library, Muncie Mission, and Ross Community Center – have been awarded a $250,000 grant from Lowe’s to revitalize the South Central and Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhoods in Muncie as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization, a nationwide program dedicated to serving more families through community development partnerships. Lowe’s contributed $1.75 million to support Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization program and help make 20 neighborhoods across the country more vibrant, inviting and safer places to live.
Recently Muncie Habitat for Humanity launched a quality of life initiative partnering with residents and community organizations in the South Central and Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhood. This effort has become known as the 8 Twelve Coalition and focuses on housing, beautification, services, and business development.
“Muncie Habitat – and its neighborhood revitalization partners in the 8 Twelve Coalition are focused on listening to the residents of the South Central and Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhoods, and bringing funding and resources to this area. We are so grateful to Lowe’s for their generous support in our community and around the U.S.,” said Lindsey Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of Muncie Habitat. “Through their support, we can improve conditions in our neighborhoods and help build strength, stability and self-reliance in communities.”
The following 8 Twelve Coalition partners have received a $250,000 Lowe’s grant consisting of Lowe’s store credit and cash to complete various revitalization projects in the South Central and Thomas Park/Avondale neighborhoods.
The Boys and Girls Club of Muncie received $55,000 to improve the facility’s appearance both inside and out, increase safety, and enhance activity areas. Muncie Public Library received $50,000 to build a Market Pavilion at Maring-Hunt which will be a community garden stand and outdoor kitchen with a food preparation and demonstration area. Muncie Mission received $20,000 to rehabilitate a home on South Liberty Street which will be used for their transitional housing program. Ross Community Center received $75,000 to help develop their outdoor space be creating a serenity garden and upgrading playground equipment.
Muncie Habitat for Humanity, the fiscal agent for the grant, received $50,000 to do “A Brush with Kindness” home repair projects for 10 home owners and undertake a new home construction on West Memorial Drive.
“Lowe’s shares Habitat’s vision that having a safe, stable home helps bring strength, security and pride to families and ultimately communities,” said James Frison, Lowe’s community relations director. “It’s important for us to support Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization program and help revive neighborhoods like South Central and Thomas Park/Avondale in Muncie, making them places where people love to live.”
A national partner since 2003, Lowe’s has committed more than $63 million nationally to Habitat for Humanity and helped more than 6,500 families improve their living conditions. Each year, Lowe’s provides grants and volunteer assistance to Habitat affiliates, supports National Women Build Week, and conducts how-to clinics at stores to teach volunteers construction skills.
About Muncie Habitat for Humanity
For over 30 years, Muncie Habitat for Humanity has built and rehabilitated over 125 homes in partnership with volunteers. Greater Muncie Habitat for Humanity believes that every man, woman and child should have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs houses using volunteer labor and donations. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor — sweat equity — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.
Muncie Habitat for Humanity launched itsneighborhood revitalization efforts in 2015. Muncie Habitat works alongside community organizations and residents to improve the quality of life by strengthening the collaborative work and neighborhood initiatives already taking place.
About Lowe’s in the Community
Lowe’s, a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company, has a 60-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. In the past decade, Lowe’s and the Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $300 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe’s Heroes volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. For the latest news, visit Newsroom.Lowes.com or follow @LowesMedia on Twitter.
CleanCut Lawn and Landscape is this month’s sponsor of non-profit stories found on MuncieJournal.com Locally owned for over 32 years, CleanCut is your dependable, knowledgeable landscape company. CleanCut Lawn & Landscape. A better lawn. A better life!
