I am Diana Woodward and I would like to share my story about the acceptance and building of my home with Habitat for Humanity.

               One day while I was driving on the Orrtanna Road I saw a property with A Habitat for Humanity sign in the yard.  I was currently renting a 4-bedroom 2- bathroom and five rooms downstairs home in Arendtsville which was way more than I needed being a single person. I went to visit my daughter and her friend Lori and during the conversation we were having I asked Lori how she liked her Habitat home.

She was overjoyed at being a homeowner! I told her about the property on the Orrtanna Road and she said “I can get you an application to fill out if you were interested in applying for consideration.”  I didn’t think I would qualify but I filled out an application anyway.

               To my surprise, I received a phone call from Miss Sue and we set up an appointment to review my application. The board approved my application and the process began. I met with a couple from Habitat at my current residence and we talked about why I wanted to move into a different place since I already had a place to live. I explained the home was way more than I needed and I would like to have a single-story home as I was getting older.

               I was put on a waiting list, then Covid 19 happened, prolonging the wait. After 5 years of waiting the phone call came and I was told it was my turn. A happy moment for me! I then met with Miss Sue to go over the paperwork and the details. I drove by a house that was in the finishing process for the current homeowner and met Mr. Steve. He took me through the home and I liked the floor plan.  I chose the same house plan!  I was allowed to make any changes if I so chose. At first, I wanted to make a few changes but then I decided to stay with the original plan.

               A Habitat build is the process where the homeowner and her family and friend put in the hours to build the home they are receiving. The term used is “Sweat Equity.” This was my most exciting part as I wanted to help build my own home!

               In August of 2022 my build began! I worked with Mr. Steve on the process of framing the floor to pour the concrete base after the mason finished his part. This part ran into the month of September.

Then in October the Blitz Build began. You may be wondering what a Blitz Build is. It consists of two consecutive weekends from Thurs thru Sat where volunteers help set the frame and rooms to the home.

This is also when I met Mr. Al, he worked alongside Mr. Steve for years building the Habitat for Humanity homes. After the two weekends with plenty of volunteers the house was under roof! We then met on Saturdays for 4 hours with scheduled volunteers to finish the inside. Working on the inside included: a lot of hammering and nailing of studs, putting in insulation, running electrical wiring, the placing of duct for the heating and cooling system, plumbing, hanging of drywall, finishing drywall (this is a dusty project), then the painting process, hanging wallpaper (my choice with my friend Dore helping me), and putting down the wood flooring. I was blessed throughout the remainder of my home with a donation of wood flooring from a friend. Mr. Steve would show me choices of siding to pick from and then we went together to pick out the flooring for the bathrooms and laundry room as well as the countertops for the sinks. I also picked out the sinks and faucets of my choosing and Mr. Steve installed them. I made sure to clean up after each day of work. Steve, Al and I also worked some days thru the week and occasionally went to lunch afterwards. It was a pleasure to get to know both of them. Once the inside of the home was completed the excavators returned to finish up the landscaping and plant grass seed. During the building process volunteers from churches would bring lunch for all the volunteers. Coach Remaley was in charge of all the arrangements for the volunteer schedule. Habitat partnered with the Adams County Technical Institute which gave the students in the program a chance to work on my house build.

               During the build process the Gettysburg Garden contacted Miss Sue and asked if they could

help plant some shrubs and flowers in the front of my house. We agreed and I went with two of the garden club members to pick out my choices. I was working at Boyer Cellars at the time and purchased them from the Nursery. We picked a day and many of the club members, myself and Tommy (He tilled the ground for us to be able to plant) planted my selection as well as some flowers donated from the club members.

               It has been a blessing to meet so many willing volunteers and a pleasure to work along-side them. In June of 2023 I finally moved into my new home with a home dedication where members from Habitat for Humanity, my family, friends and a few of the volunteers attended. I have added to the front yard of my home an herb garden, a flower garden built in a stone bed structure and am working on a perennial flower garden. My grandsons and their two friends have helped with the added garden process!

Currently: I have been through some health-related conditions and surgeries the past two years and am looking forward to a blessed new year in 2026!  I want to Thank God for answered prayer and blessing me with the Habitat for Humanity Organization to give me a forever home. I would like to once again THANK my family and all those who helped build my forever home and the members of Habitat for Humanity. THANK YOU, Mr. Bernard Yanetti and his team for the closing of my home. I have made many new friends during the building process and appreciate all of those who have taken part in this amazing opportunity for receiving an affordable home. In the future I hope to be a volunteer at one of the Habitat Builds. My health issues have kept me from this endeavor so far.

In closing: If anyone reading this feels led to donate in continuing to help Habitat for Humanity bless others, please don’t hesitate to send your donation to them.

My name is Lori Wright and I have a unique story regarding Adams County Habitat for Humanity. I am currently serving on the board as Secretary which I have been for 12 years. I also own a Habitat home for 10 years now. My journey started with Habitat in 2007 when I helped a friend build her home in Arendtsville. I hadn’t heard of Habitat for Humanity before then. Adams County Habitat for Humanity built a beautiful home for her and her family. A few years went by and she asked me to be the Secretary of the Adams County chapter. I quickly jumped on board. By then I had my son and I knew I wanted to apply for a habitat home. I had always wanted to raise my son on my own in my own home, but I knew it would have been difficult being a single parent. I applied for a home not once, not twice, but three times. The first two times, I was provided advice on what to do to improve my chances of being a homeowner. Finally the third time was the charm for me. I was provided a mentor to assist me throughout my journey, but I knew what I had to do.

Like I said I knew I wanted to go this path so I started my sweat equity hours early, which all homeowners have to do. The homeowners have to work on building a home, either their own or someone else’s. It is an opportunity to work alongside volunteers to bring to life a family’s dream of owning a home. Fortunately I was able to work on my own home. I was finally approved for home ownership in March of 2015.

Finally being accepted as a homeowner, I had and continue to have a sense of pride knowing I can go through my home and say I helped paint this or I helped with that in my own home.

I am truly grateful to my friends and family who have always been there for me through everything. I appreciate the kindness of the volunteers who have helped in building my home.

My advice is to never give up. You may be told no, but always try again until you get the answer you have worked so hard for.