BCS teacher grateful for project assistance
Area residents participating in Team Honda’s Week(s) of Service this summer are coming alongside a Bellefontaine City Schools teacher by picking up hammers, drills and other tools to provide hands-on assistance as she constructs her new home through the Habitat For Humanity of Delaware and Union Counties.
The volunteers have been on site at homeowner Hannah’s new residence in Marysville twice already this summer, and a third home construction session is planned for Saturday. The effort is one of more than 360 service projects in communities across North America conducted by Honda associates, dealers and suppliers.
“Volunteering makes people feel good, and it’s been rewarding for our associates to work with a local teacher on the construction of her new home,” said Mary Miller, American Honda Motor Corp. corporate communications assistant manager.
“It was a wonderful experience to be able to join together as a Business Resource Group and help out in the community,” Micah Hoshi said following work at the Marysville home site earlier this month.
“I love how Honda provides these opportunities, as well as promoting a week of service. It shows how committed Honda is to being a company society wants to exist, the respect they have for the Business Resource Group, by including us in Honda’s outreach, and the encouragement they give to building bonds within our BRGs and the community.”
According to materials from Habitat for Humanity of Delaware & Union Counties, Hannah is a visual arts teacher who previously was residing in her parents’ basement. Although she enjoyed being close to her family and siblings, she aspired to have a place of her own.
“Researching apartments and became very discouraging when I learned that I could not responsibly afford to rent or buy my own home,” she explained.
Her father learned about Habitat’s Homeownership Program while volunteering with his company and urged her to apply.
“When I learned that I was accepted into the program, I was speechless,” she said. “A zero-interest mortgage means I can begin my adult life without crushing debt.
“I am most excited that I will have space to spread out and to have independence again.
I will be able to teach virtually and have the space to create art, and that will be a personal game changer.”
As a part of Habitat’s Homeownership Program, Hannah also is completing 300 hours of sweat equity in the construction of her new residence.
“I am looking forward to working with Habitat volunteers and learning new skills. I can’t wait to have my own home and show pride in where I live, and to create new friendships with neighbors,” the BCS teacher said.
Miller related that in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Honda extended its usual week-long service initiative this year to run for the entire summer through Aug. 31. A total of 158 dealers and 94 suppliers joined the company in performing service projects in their local communities through virtual and in-person activities.
“We wanted to offer additional time for participants to be able to serve in their communities in a variety of ways, with a strategic focus on COVID recovery, including food drives and blood drives,” Miller said, noting that there are 65 food drives and 35 blood drives taking place across North America.
The corporate communications assistant manager related that there have been a variety of creative projects throughout the initiative, including Sunnyside Honda in Ohio providing lunch for vaccine nurses and ROKI AMERICA Co., Ltd. in Ohio donating a surprise plate of cookies, donuts to EMS, fire and police, one station per month.
Some Honda manufacturing locations, including Alabama, Georgia Transmission, and two Ohio facilities have conducted blood drives as well.
Oiles America Corp. in North Carolina offered its employees to chance to donate a flag or any other independence day item to decorate the lawn and/or hallways of an assisted living facility. Galpin Honda in California provided a meal to essential workers at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.
The Indiana Auto Plant hosted a recent food-packing event for the Million Meal Movement. Honda also conducted a virtual food drive in June and a virtual school supply drive, which recently wrapped up through YouGiveGoods.com.
Team Honda Week of Service is an annual event that began in 2016 to encourage community service projects and highlight the important work of local community organizations throughout North America. The event coincides with the founding of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., the first Honda company established in America, on June 11, 1959.