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Donations Benefit Habitat for Humanity of Kent County

Federal BuildingGRAND RAPIDS – Habitat for Humanity of Kent County was the recipient of a donation of building supplies from Ferris State University.

Remaining materials from the restoration of the Federal Building for Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris and the university’s College of Pharmacy Center for Innovational Learning and Research – both located in Grand Rapids – will benefit local families. In February, the university made the gift to Habitat ReStore to assist the organization’s stated mission to serve communities through neighborhood revitalization and home ownership for families who otherwise could not afford to own a home of their own.

“Habitat for Humanity is one of the most notable non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals and families. Donations of building supplies like those Ferris has offered, coupled with volunteers who know how to put those supplies to use, assures quality living facilities for those who are in need,” said KCAD Vice President for Administration and Finance Sandra Davison-Wilson. “We’re so very pleased that the efforts to repurpose the Federal Building in Grand Rapids to serve as classroom space for students at Kendall College of Art and Design also yielded the type of building products for reuse that will benefit yet another group of individuals as they are incorporated into the structure of affordable new homes.”

Michael Hughes, Ferris’ associate vice president for Physical Plant, noted that the project to restore the Federal Building required a greater amount of materials to protect the historical aspects of the facility. University officials opted to repurpose the leftover materials and make the donation to the local Habitat for Humanity organization. Like Davison-Wilson, Hughes is confident that these materials will be well-utilized to help build family homes.

“It’s really an awesome opportunity for Ferris to be able to do something like this to assist with the work that Habitat for Humanity is doing for families,” he said. “How can anyone not feel excited about the mission of Habitat for Humanity to help families find affordable housing of their own? We’re excited to be able to do this for families in Grand Rapids.”

The donation idea came from Christman Company, according to Hughes. AS partner of Ferris in the restoration of the Federal Building, Christman offers professional services for construction management, general contracting, design, building and more.

In 2012, Habitat for Humanity expects to complete 30 new and rehabbed homes through its neighborhood revitalization initiatives in Kent, east Ottawa and northern Allegan counties, according to H4H of Kent County officials. The donated Ferris materials are expected to assist in these projects.