Business Owners Learn About Habitat for Humanity

Manny Cunard, associate executive director of the , gave an overview of his organization Wednesday morning to members of the group.

The Middlesex chapter of Habitat for Humanity, which has been in existence for 15 years, builds one to two homes a year for qualified applicants. The houses are constructed mostly by volunteers, which makes the homes affordable for Habitat's clients. The applicants themselves must work a number of “sweat equity hours” on the home.

“People get a new lease on life," said of the Six Degrees Business Networking group.

The Six Degrees Business Networking, started in 1995, offers its members the chance to network with other business professionals, seek referrals and get advice. Each member has a different “professional specialty" that they bring to the organization.

During his presentation, Cunard also discussed the Restore store at 34 Shunpike Road in Cromwell. The store allows people to donate and buy reusable materials for remodeling homes. The proceeds from the store will go toward helping repair homes in Middlesex Community.

For more information about the Restore store, call 80-788-6483 or email jdoyle@habitatmiddlesex.org.

The Middlesex chapter of Habitat for Humanity has recently partnered with the organization Brush with Kindness, which makes repairs to existing homes when owners cannot afford to do them.

A trailer in Middletown had a leaking roof and a badly damaged floor that the homeowner could not fix, Cunard said. Brush with Kindness fixed the roof and floor. They are currently installing a ramp for an elderly woman in Old Saybrook who broke her hip, he added.

“We have had a flood of applications,” Cunard stated. “We are doing our best. The Brush with Kindness program is an important program."

Cunard was impressed by the group's turnout and their abilities. He wants to get the group to volunteer their time and help build a home in Middletown in the coming months.

“I have not seen a group this strong in a long time," he said.

Six Degrees Business Networking meets every Wednesday at 7 a.m. at the Administrative meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month.

For more information about Six Degrees Business Networking, visit their website.