The Raccoon Valley Bank Board of Directors presented a $15,000 donation to Dallas County Habitat for Humanity Thursday morning in a ceremony at the bank’s Perry offices.
The Raccoon Valley Bank funding will help build Dallas County Habitat’s first new-construction home in Perry, slated for development in 2018 at 1716 Vine St.
“Our owners, directors and employees strongly support the continued work of Dallas County Habitat for Humanity,” said Terry Nielsen, Raccoon Valley Bank president and CEO. “Our bank plans to be a sustaining part of these efforts for years to come.”
Lance Henning, president and executive director of Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, accepted the donation on behalf of his organization. Henning said the donation will be put to good use in Perry.
“Seeking to put God’s love into action, Dallas County Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope,” Henning said. “Dallas County Habitat works in partnership with generous donors, sponsors and volunteers to preserve homeownership through affordable home repairs and provide affordable homeownership opportunities to qualified low-income families.”
Once built, the Vine Street house will be sold to a qualified low-income family, who will buy the home with an affordable mortgage, he said. Their payments will then recycle to help the next family achieve their dream of homeownership.
Raccoon Valley Bank is the first lender to support the new-construction house, and fundraising will continue into 2018, Nielsen said. In addition to their financial support, Raccoon Valley Bank has pledged to engage their staff in volunteer opportunities during construction of the home and during Rock the Block events.
On hand for the ceremonial check presentation were a number of Raccoon Valley Bank employees and several members of the bank’s board of directors, including Nielsen, Elizabeth Garst, Dr. Sarah Garst, Dr. H. T. Holcomb, Doug McDermott and Jon Peters.
Representing Habitat for Humanity were Henning and Omar Padilla, outreach director for Dallas County Habitat for Humanity.
The city of Perry shared the joy of the bank’s generous donation, with Perry City Council member Barb Wolling and Perry City Administrator Sven Peterson on hand for the event.
Along with the planned new construction, Dallas County Habitat for Humanity is also conducting its Rock the Block program in Perry through Saturday. Volunteers are still needed to help paint, weatherize, landscape and make home repairs at four Perry homes.
Volunteers can register at the Habitat for Humanity website, or just show up at Wiese Park at 8 a.m. or noon on any or all of the four days.
