GREEN COUNTY — In April’s mild spring weather, a gift was in the making as volunteers worked on a Habitat for Humanity project to improve the home owned by Ronald and Cynthia Uptegraw.

Habitat for Humanity of Green County (HHGC) went to work on a project to replace the skirting on the Uptegraw’s home. With funding from The Home Depot Foundation through Habitat International, the project got off the ground. 

Most of the volunteers came from Swiss Church in New Glarus, who had offered assistance on a spring project. Roger Lindh, a HHGC board member who managed the project, reports eight people worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and completed the work.

“We are really happy with the work they did,” said Cynthia Uptegraw. Several of the Uptegraw relatives joined in on the work. Ronald and Cynthia say they have more work to do on their home but this was a good boost. Cynthia said, “They say one hand always helps the other,” and Saturday was a good example.

HHGC’s Home Repair Program is designed to help low income homeowners who are affected by age, disability or family circumstances and struggle to maintain the integrity of their homes. Habitat provides “A hand up, not a hand out.” 

Based on this approach, homeowners are required to provide a designated number of sweat equity hours and a one-time payment toward the repairs which is based on a sliding scale. HHGC also receives funding for its Home Repair Program from the United Way of Green County. Home repair applications are available on the HHGC website www.greencountyhabitat.org and at the Habitat Resale Store located at 305 2nd Street in Monroe.

The next home repair project is scheduled for June 4-5. Volunteers are always needed. Visit the HHGC website or the Resale Store to learn more about becoming a Habitat volunteer.