Habitat for Humanity Builds Shed for Rehoboth Senior Center

The Gladys Hurrell Senior Center has a new storage shed thanks to Old Colony Habitat for Humanity and the Rehoboth Senior Citizens Club. The 16 x 10 ft. storage shed was built over the weekend of April 17 through April 19 by volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, seniors and staff of the center. “I think it’s awesome,” said Council on Aging Director Linda Sherman, about the project. “It’s nice that they are coming into Rehoboth and helping people."

The project began late last year after representatives from Old Colony Habitat for Humanity met with selectmen. Lorraine Botts, Vice President of the Rehoboth Senior Citizens Club, who spearheaded the project, contacted Manny Cunard, Executive Director of Old Colony Habitat, about the possibility of building a shed for the Senior Center. The shed was needed to store supplies and garden equipment to support Center programs and activities. Most of the supplies, like tables and chairs were being stored in the Center’s basement. “Space is limited here. Most of the things are stored in the basement and it’s difficult to go up and down the stairs,” Sherman said.

Botts raised more than $2,900 through individual and in-kind donations and Cunard organized the project, obtaining all the supplies and coordinating the manpower.  Botts raised the funds through an ad in the Rehoboth Reporter. She called it a “shed raising” and likened it to the “barn raisings” that were popular years ago. The article explained: “There is little space in the basement of the senior center, and going up and down the stairs has become laborious and dangerous carrying tables, etc. for the club's events. It would be wonderful if our community would come together and have a shed raising for the seniors.”

And the community did come together.  “The article asked for monetary donations and supplies and it started coming in with small donations,” Botts said. All the individual donors asked to remain anonymous. One man donated $1,400 to the project. Donations even came in from other towns like Seekonk. Habitat board member Harold Messenger, who lives in Rehoboth, offered to grade the shed area and provide a gravel base. J&J Construction kindly donated the gravel for the project. Habitat for Humanity partnered with HomeBuilt Inc., a Groton, MA company that made the construction kit for the shed. All the wood was pre-cut to make the building project simpler and faster.

The shed is made up of two rooms, with two doors and windows. “Dennis Michaud of Homebuilt manufactured the shed, delivered it to senior center, and assisted in erecting it. He did not charge for delivery and donated his time,” Botts said. On the first day of construction, more than 10 volunteers worked all day on the shed. “I think it’s in a good location and it’s going to be great for the seniors to be able to store stuff they only use periodically, like tables,” said Rob Whittemore, a member of the COA Board of Directors who volunteered his time to help. The project was part of Habitat for Humanity’s new initiative, “A Brush with Kindness” launched last year to help homeowners with repairs and other small projects.

“This is a special activity,” said Cunard.  The project also raises awareness about the mission of Old Colony Habitat for Humanity. “It’s a great intro to Habitat for Humanity in Rehoboth. Hopefully it will help more people in town be familiar with Habitat and what the organization does,” Whittemore said.

For more information about Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, or to volunteer, visit: www.oldcolonyhabitat.org or email Cunard at dir@oldcolonyhabitat.org.