Habitat for Humanity of Kent County celebrated World Habitat Day, presented by Car City, in South East Grand Rapids on October 1, 2012 from 4-7pm. This annual event seeks to highlight the need for sustainable housing both locally and around the world. Most of the activities were centralized within the Wealthy Heights business district; specifically in front of the Wealthy Street Theatre and off Freyling Place and Robey Place. Participants engaged in a wide variety of activities, including four information sessions, three home tours, an extensive tour of multi projects along Delaware ST SE via a trolley tour, and an interactive shanty town. World Habitat Day succeeded in engaging community members and volunteers in the Grand Rapids area. Denise Piela, a volunteer with Habitat Kent, attended the event with her family. “The trolley was a wonderful way to see other properties that Habitat has been working on,” she said. “My parents, who came to see what I do with my time, enjoyed the tour and the information that the tour guide shared with us. It gave them a little better perspective as to what Habitat does.”

We appreciate the tremendous support of our 11 sponsors, as follows:  Car City, State Farm Insurance, The Winchester, Rotary Club of Grand Rapids North, Brewery Vivant, Elevation Church of Wyoming, Kava House, Spirit Dreams, Yesterdog, Uncle Cheetah’s Soup Shop and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. We would also like to recognize our volunteers from Grand Valley State University and Aquinas College. We could not have hosted such a successful event without all your help!  

Jon Hankins, Volunteer Services Director, and Connie O'Toole, Director of Construction Operations, talk with Emily Richett of FOX17 News about World Habitat Day and community development in the Wealthy Heights neighborhood. 

 Mark Ogland-Hand, Faith Relations Director, and Jon Hankins, Volunteer Services Director, discuss the importance of sustainable housing.