Stepping into the job as interim director of Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity was a snap for Elaine McVay.
And no, she isn’t talking the holiday gingerbread contest that wraps today for the organization based in Sabraton that helps build actual houses — not fanciful gingerbread ones — for families who not might achieve the dream of home ownership otherwise.
McVay, who has been in the job since October, has a resume that’s all about the particulars of putting a roof over one’s head.
Before, she was a marketing director at WVU, heading the school’s housing and student life divisions.
She did the same at other institutions in her native Indiana, before opportunities brought her to Morgantown and the state’s flagship university.
The Mon Valley Habitat director was originally a Mon Valley Habitat volunteer.
McVay was helping staff the organization’s annual “Raise the Roof” fundraiser last year when she met a Habitat family also working the event.
“They were so appreciative,” she remembered. “I got excited just talking to them.”
Which set her to thinking.
“They had a house. They had a home. And it was because of Habitat. I said, ‘Maybe I need to be doing this.’ ”
When the director’s job came open, she picked up the phone.
“It was a leap of faith.”
Faith — footers, French drains and load-bearing walls included — has been the literal foundation of Habitat for Humanity International, since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976.
It remains the favorite outreach of former Georgia governor and U.S. president Jimmy Carter, who continues to work on Habitat houses, even as he nears his 99th birthday.
Nearly 40 million people in 70 countries now call Habitat houses their own.
To date, more than 800,000 such homes have gone up — each with sweat equity pre-built into the plans.
You find Habitat homes from Tucker County to Tanzania, with Habitat speaking its own language of the above.
Each homeowner is required to put 250 hours of muscle (the aforementioned sweat equity), into the home.
Same for the other family members 18 or older who will be living there.
Hammering down roof shingles.
Pouring concrete for the foundation.
Anything else and everything else, within reason.
Specialized work such as wiring and plumbing is undertaken by volunteers with expertise in those areas.
Since 1990, Mon Valley Habitat for Humanity has built 66 houses across Monongalia, Preston and Marion counties, serving more than 250 people, McVay said.
Work on No. 67 is ongoing in Kingwood.
After that, construction begins on another home in Fairmont.
It’s too late to vote on the gingerbread house competition, which closed Thursday, but not too late go online at www.monvalleyhfh.org to view the entries — or to get information on how you can otherwise donate dollars or time to the Habitat effort here at home.
Meanwhile, the 2023 edition of “Raise the Roof” is set March 4, with more details to follow.
McVay will be there, she said, since that’s what got her into this in the place.
“I love talking with families through the process,” she said.
“Especially when it’s time to hand over the keys to the front door. Then it’s real.”
Kellie Price can tell you all about it.
The door to Mon Valley Habitat House No. 53 was opened to her in the middle of a snowstorm eight years ago.
She was putting in long hours as a social worker — and even more sweat-equity hours at the house when she wasn’t in the office or in the field.
“I was exhausted,” she said, “but I knew it was all going to be worth it.”
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