The Thousand Islands Area Habitat for Humanity wants to provide more people in need with new homes, but it first needs more volunteers for several committees.

Pamela M. Rajner, local Habitat volunteer coordinator, said some committees have been inactive for a few years because of a revolving volunteer base. The more people on each committee, the more work can be done to help build houses for north country families, she said.

“One is the community awareness and fundraising committee,” Mrs. Rajner said. “Fundraising is a big thing for us, but we don’t have a committee to brainstorm those fundraising ideas. Money goes directly to building homes.”

She said she has held a few meetings this year to recruit volunteers and thus far has only a couple of people interested in that committee. She’d like to see a minimum of five people per committee, which also include church relations, volunteer development, family selection/family support and building.

Responsibilities of the church relations committee involve helping to develop a contact system between the agency and churches, while the volunteer development committee would have people who would serve as hosts or hostesses for volunteer groups at work sites. The family selection/family support committee helps go through applications to determine which families are the perfect fit for the program. Volunteers who would be involved with the building committee would help construct the Habitat houses. Mrs. Rajner said it is not a requirement, rather an encouragement, for people to have construction experience.

Each committee will work directly with the board of directors.

She said she’s stepping up volunteer recruitment since Habitat house construction is at a lull.

While people may find other commitments or move away, Mrs. Rajner said, it’s important for Habitat to keep a list of volunteers who may be willing to step up and select a committee to volunteer with.

Habitat will have a committee orientation meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 in the second-floor conference room at Maggie’s on the River, 500 Newell St., for anyone interested in volunteering on a committee. Preregistration is requested by calling Mrs. Rajner at 486-7321.

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