After a brief hiatus, Habitat for Humanity is back in Guthrie County. The last time Habitat for Humanity had a presence in Guthrie County, it was partnered with Dallas County. Dallas County received nine projects from that partnership, and Guthrie County received none. Now, under a new affiliation, partnering with Greene and Boone Counties to form the Heart of Iowa Habitat for Humanity, the goal is to get Guthrie County more involved.
Unlike many rural Iowa counties, where the major population center is in a substantial county seat, Guthrie County is unique in that the seat, Guthrie Center is no larger than two other cities; Stuart and Panora. And there are several even smaller cities spread out as well. This presents a challenge when choosing where to build a Habitat for Humanity home, but Guthrie County’s new Habitat Association Director Jeff Lamoureux says they have a good system in place.
“There are three main committees. There’s a construction committee, a church and volunteer relations committee and then a family programs committee. That family programs committee will help us find families, there’s an application process, also. Then, between them and I, we’ll decide which families are most qualified, and which families we’re going to help.”
For those seeking more information about Habitat for Humanity in Guthrie County, there are three informational meetings coming up this week; 7 pm Tuesday night at Stuart’s First Congregational Church, and Thursday night at 5 pm inside of Guthrie Center’s First Christian Church, and Thursday night at 7 pm inside of Panora’s Faith Bible Church. All three meetings are open to the public.
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A creative new method of after school learning involving a classic childhood toy is coming to the Panora Public Library next month. Guthrie County Extension’s Mollie Clark has details on the Junior First LEGO League.
“Junior First LEGO League is focused on building an interest in science and engineering in children aged 6 through 9. It is a hands-on program designed to capture young children’s curiosity, and direct it towards discovering towards science and technology impact the world around them. This program features a real-world challenge to be explored through research, critical thinking and imagination.”
The course will run Tuesdays from March 24th through April 28th. Space is limited, and spots are expected to fill up quickly. To sign up, call Mollie at 641-747-2276.