Locals Teaming Up For Habitat Project

In early June, Habitat for Humanity is planning to build 200 new homes across the country for those in need as part of the Home Builders Blitz 2012. On the North Shore, area contractors and volunteers are preparing to put up a new two-family home in Lawrence as part of that effort - and they're even going to get a visit at the job site from Steve Thomas of "This Old House." Thomas has been involved with Habitat for about two decades and is only visiting five of the 200 sites nationwide during the Builders Blitz week.

The site, on Market Street in Lawrence, is on donated land where a fire claimed the previous structure on the site.

Lynnfield resident Yvonne Blacker is part of the logistics team for the project, handling volunteers and other needs. She anticipates that about 30 volunteers - many of them building professionals - will be needed on the site each day the project is running, the week of June 4-10.

Blacker's is also the creative director and editor for the locally-produced New England Finery Magazine, which devoted its entire latest issue to Habitat For Humanity.

Volunteers who would like to get involved with the project are welcome, as are donations of items such as gift cards to buy snacks or lunches for the volunteers. For example, Blacker noted that the Coletta family of Lynnfield, area Dunkin Donuts franchise owners, are providing a $100 gift card for coffee on the site.

Blacker is an interior designer who also works for Designer Bath in Beverly, which is donating fixtures for the new home. "The fact that all these contractors are donating their time and resources and material, I think that says a lot about this community," said Blacker.