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The Chief Petty Officers of Pax River NAS and the Patuxent Habitat for Humanity have come together to build 2 new homes in St. Mary’s County this spring.Command Master Chief Mark Cummings and Don Parsons, Executive Director of Patuxent Habitat will lead a ground breaking ceremony at the building sites.This is the first step in the ambitious undertaking to increase the number of Habitat homes to be built this year.Generally, Patuxent Habitat has built 2 homes per year.Habitat’s new Five Year Strategic Plan sets a goal expanding its ability to ultimately build 5 affordable homes for working families in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties each year.Habitat’s principal need is funding in the form of cash and building material gifts-in-kind.

“Patuxent Habitat’s new partnership with the Navy Chiefs provides us with valuable volunteer services to meet our building goal.It is an honor to work with such an elite group as the Chiefs and it is a huge benefit to the community to have the generosity of the Chief Petty Officers,” said Parsons.

Command Master Chief Cummings will invite over 350 active duty and retired Chief Petty Officers in the Southern Maryland area to participate in the Ground Breaking Ceremony.Many Chiefs have already signed up to volunteer or lead some aspect of the build.Not allvolunteers have experience in building homes.There are many other ways to help that don’t involve construction, such as helping Habitat’s various committees, development and administration.

It usually takes 12 to 20 weeks to complete one home.It takes many volunteers, a lot of building materials, and also cash to complete construction. Parsons explains that “Managing a Habitat build is like putting together a jig-saw puzzle.We start with a blank check list and plug in the pieces until a home appears.With a donation of $50 I can buy a door, with $250 I install electrical wiring, and every contribution is added until the picture is complete.”

Patuxent Habitat, a recognized affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International, is a seven year old nonprofit whose purpose is to build affordable homes for working families in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties.The organization is also well known for its ReStore, located outside the main gate of the base in Lexington Park.A second ReStore recently opened in northern Calvert County.The ReStore accepts donations of cash and building materials.The ReStore, as a part of Patuxent Habitat for Humanity,is also a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Habitat houses are sold at no profit to selected families with no-interest loans issued over a fixed period.Affordable monthly mortgage payments are repaid over 20 to 30 years and are used to support the construction of more houses.Habitat’s focus is on families whose household income is less than 55% of the median household income in our area.

The public is invited to the Ground Breaking Ceremony on April 12th at 3:30PM.Donations of building funds and new or gently used building materials are welcomed.The properties are located at 21859 and 21863 Milton Lane, in Lexington Park, MD 20653.

For more information on sponsorships or volunteering, call 301 863 6227 or 410 326 9050, and visit www.patuxenthabitat.org