Donated lumber boosts Habitat project

Plum Creek donated and delivered 700 manufactured lumber studs to the Habitat for Humanity build site Tuesday in Columbia Falls.

The donation is crucial to the framing of two new Habitat homes at 5 and 7 Mitchell Way. Construction on these two homes is scheduled to begin in the next two weeks.

Adjacent to the Plum Creek lumberyard, Habitat’s Columbia Falls Affordable Housing project, which began in May 2011, has 10 of 16 townhomes completed.

With this donated lumber from Plum Creek, Habitat is one step closer to achieving the project’s scheduled completion of March 2015.

“We are so fortunate to have Plum Creek as such a loyal supporter,” said Erin Falcon, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Flathead Valley. “By receiving these generous lumber donations on such an ongoing basis in this development, it has made our mission of providing affordable housing in the valley that much more achievable.”

According to Tom Ray, vice president for Northwest Resources and Manufacturing at Plum Creek, “Plum Creek is pleased to partner with Habitat for Humanity and other community organizations to help provide affordable housing for those in need in the Flathead Valley. We commend the Habitat for Humanity organization for the important work they do worldwide.”

Volunteers who helped unload Plum Creek’s donated lumber included 10 Air Force Academy cadets from Colorado Springs, Colo., who are participating in Habitat for Humanity’s national alternative break program Collegiate Challenge.

Collegiate Challenge invites students to spend one week working with Habitat affiliates to build homes and improve communities.

Currently it requires 3,000 hours of volunteer labor to complete a Habitat home.

Habitat for Humanity holds build days every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  No building experience is necessary. People interested in volunteering can call the Habitat for Humanity administrative office at 257-8800.