A competition to build the best dog house, will help build real houses for people in Chico. It's a benefit for "Habitat for Humanity." The non profit agency helps families ... who might not otherwise have the opportunity ... become homeowners. It's done through sweat equity, donations, and volunteers.
Heather Kavanaugh has volunteered with the agency since last spring, "Putting in time and love into a house, with their help and contractors help and donated time and effort. and it does, it changes people's lives."
Over the past 16 years, Chico's chapter has placed eleven families in their own homes. The Miles family moved in to their home last summer. Jennifer Miles says,"It's nice to know when we look around in our home to know that I worked on that roof and helped hammer those nails and tresses. My friends and family did too."
"The hope would be they continue to help in other ways and give back to families in same way people helped them get into home," says Kavanaugh.
To help raise money for the cause...five community teams have built dog houses, with hopes of garnering the most "votes". Votes are submitted by way of raffle tickets, and the dog houses will be given away through a drawing September Fifth.
They are on display in the groups new "Re-Store" on Meyers Street in Chico, where funds are also raised by selling donated construction materials and home appliances.
Volunteers are critical to the mission, whether it's swinging a hammer or doing something else, "It's something you can't put a price on. When you see it changes people's lives, it's priceless."
The winner of the dog house contest will be announced September fifth at a Dog Parade and Chili Cook-off hosted by the Elks Lodge in Chico. It's from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. and is also a benefit for local schools and the Butte Humane Society.
For more information visit www.buttehabitat.org.
