ProVia Workers Clear Millersburg Site for 2 Habitat Homes

When Holmes County Habitat for Humanity bought a vacant house on Hebron Street in Millersburg, they knew demolition would come before construction. What they didn't expect was ten ProVia employees showing up at 6:30 a.m. ready to transform the overgrown property in a single day.

The leadership class volunteers filled an entire 40-yard dumpster to overflowing, clearing both the inside of the abandoned home and the yard. Executive Director Laura McCartney had connected with the property owners more than a year ago, and the home had sat empty for months.

"This is incredible," McCartney said. "It would have taken us so long to do the work they've volunteered to do here."

The timing worked perfectly. McCartney had been contacted by three different ProVia groups looking for volunteer opportunities right when Habitat needed help most.

ProVia's Emerging Leader 101 class brings together employees identified as potential leaders from across all company facilities. The program focuses on servant leadership, and volunteers get paid their regular wages while giving back to local nonprofits.

"This company is amazing because, from the day you start at ProVia, you're being taught the servant leadership way of life," said class member Harvey Steiner. The class chose Habitat from a list of 30 local organizations where they could make a difference.

The Ripple Effect

This single morning of work moves Habitat closer to building two new homes on the double lot. The volunteer culture at ProVia has inspired other local businesses to follow their example of paid community service time.

McCartney said these partnerships are essential to Habitat's mission. "We as a board couldn't do this alone," she explained, looking at the filled dumpster that represented what would have been weeks of work.

The property will eventually be razed, and two new Habitat homes will rise in its place. The timeline depends on grant funding, but the hard work of clearing the site is already done.

ProVia's Travis Oswald said watching class participants grow while helping the community rewards both the students and teachers. The program stretches people outside their comfort zones while building character that helps in every aspect of life.

Holmes County Habitat continues growing its footprint, bringing affordable homeownership opportunities to more families who need them.