63 Tolles Street, French Hill Neighborhood, Nashua, New Hampshire. Photo by Marie Lopez.

This Saturday, we’ll wrap up final punch list items at 63 Tolles Street, Nashua as our new partner family takes ownership. We need to replace the range hood, one screen, and the front storm / screen door; and install a CO detector. Although the long-range forecast indicates a chance for some occasional scattered showers, we should be OK since most of this work is indoors or under an awning.

Directions from Everett Turnpike, Exit 7:

EAST on AMHERST ST/NH-101A toward downtown, crossing Main (Concord) St at the light, continuing on LOWELL ST. 1.7 mi
Turn LEFT onto ORANGE ST. <<0.1 mi
First RIGHT onto LOCK ST <<0.1 mi
Immediate RIGHT onto WHITNEY ST. 0.2 mi
Turn LEFT onto TOLLES ST. #63 is on the right

See as many of you as can make it, starting about 9:00.

Upcoming events:
Next build site: Still seeking donations / deals.
40 Chestnut Street, Nashua (SNHRM): Finish punch list for certificate of occupancy.
Other small projects being coordinated.

If you have any questions, please call Building Committee Chairman Eric Moore at 603.620.4182.

Vicki Hatfield (inside door on left) observes as the Mena Family poses for a picture for Greater Nshua Habitat for Humanity. Photo by Marie A. Matthews.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Mena Family was one of the first two families selected to partner with Habitat for Humanity in the construction of a home after the organization of the Nashua affiliate

Nashua - When the Mena Family first found out about Habitat for Humanity’s 0% Interest Mortgage they were a bit skeptical: Elizabeth Mena says that Habitat for Humanity seemed like “an unbelievable blessing.”  She remembers having many doubts.  “When we met the Habitat for Humanity team everything sounded so great…”  Elizabeth laughs as she looks back: “as typical Colombians, we felt it was too good to be true!”

The Mena Family celebrated the 10^th anniversary of their partnership with Habitat for Humanity this past March.  They are now half-way through a mortgage that helped finance the home they built together with other Habitat for Humanity volunteers. 

Habitat for Humanity has had a Nashua affiliate since December 1, 1994 and it initially focused on small projects such as home repairs.  The Menas were among the first two Nashua families to build an entire home with Habitat for Humanity; the two families shared a duplex on Tolles Street.  

Vicki Hatfield, a member of Habitat’s Family Selection Committee remembers how the Mena’s were chosen among a pool of applicants. “The Tolles Street project was our first. We had three qualified applicants for two homes. The Menas were our absolute first choice.  When we were selecting families they were living with other family members and their two daughters had a closet as their bedroom.”  Vicki feels that the Mena family has been a successful partner with Habitat for a number of reasons: “They were very enthusiastic; both adults, along with their 15 year old son, were at the job site almost every weekend. Prior to applying for a Habitat home they had been trying to buy a house at auction on Tolles Street. They were outbid at the auction.”  (more…)