Mower County wins Habitat for Humanity challenge
Published 8:33 am Friday, October 8, 2010
The Freeborn – Mower Habitat for Humanity Playhouse Challenge results are in — Mower County recieves the gold. The local Habitat for Humanity affiliate pitted Mower County against Freeborn County in a friendly competition to see which could raise the most contributions. The playhouse challenge concluded this past weekend with a fundraiser at the Austin and Albert Lea HyVee stores, collecting over $1,200.00 from July to October. The proceeds will be used for the building fund to complete the home built in Albert Lea this year, and for the home scheduled to be built in Mower County in 2011.
Contributors were given the opportunity to vote for the preschool of their choice to receive the playhouse. The participating preschools in the challenge
![playhouse2010](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2010/10/playhouse2010-300x199.jpg)
Residents in Mower and Freeborn Counties placed bid on this Habitat for Humanity playhouse as part of the organization's fundraiser.
were Children’s Center in Freeborn County, Salvation Army in Albert Lea, Head Start Program in Freeborn County, Apple Lane Childcare in Austin, First Congregational Preschool in Austin, and Discovery Learning Center in Austin.
On Oct. 4, (World Habitat Day), Mower County was determined to be the winner of the challenge. On Monday evening, at the Board of Directors meeting, Apple Lane Childcare was chosen as the winner of the playhouse in the drawing.
Freeborn Mower Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build decent affordable housing for people in our Southern Minnesota communities. Homeowners are required to provide “sweat-equity” hours on their and other affiliate homes. The new homeowner is then awarded with an interest-free affordable mortgage and an escrow account for future home repairs. In addition, a family support committee is available to homeowners to assist them with questions after they move into their home.
Applications are currently being accepted at the Austin Habitat for Humanity office at 800 Seventh Ave. NE in Austin, if you are interested in becoming a Habitat for Humanity homeowner. You may also visit our Restore located at our Austin office. The Restore is a retail outlet, selling building materials to the general public at discount prices. We accept and sell donations such as sinks, toilets, cabinets, furniture, appliances, carpeting, flooring, doors, windows, and electrical supplies. Please contact Hugh Alverson at 507-433-1349 for store hours or for more information.
To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, or if you wish to make a contribution, please call 1-800-300-1349, or visit our website at www.habitatfreebornmower.org.