Although donated money, labor, and materials are vital to our ability to serve an average of five families per year, there are less obvious—but just as impactful—ways you can contribute to Habitat. One option is donating real estate. We own lots in many Iron Range cities, but expanding that inventory ensures we can serve neighbors across our whole service area.
One donor we especially want to recognize is St. James Presbyterian Church of Tower. The congregation held its last worship service on Sunday, July 9, 2023. When the membership voted to dissolve, they also chose to give back to the community that had been their home for nearly 140 years. Member Kathy Siskar said in a July 12, 2023, Timberjay article, “True church is not a building—it is the strong belief in and commitment that we have to God and His people. It is the essence of our spirits. They will know we are Christians by our love.”
The congregation donated the manse (pastor’s residence) to North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity. The ranch-style home is close to Main Street and Tower-Soudan Elementary School. We are rehabilitating the home, meaning some major components remain, while others were replaced to bring the home up to our Habitat energy-efficiency standards. We start the project in early 2024 so another Tower area family can purchase an affordable home. Krystal Rynders will purchase the home in early 2025.
We often replace blighted structures with simple, decent, and affordable homes, but we have given older homes new lives when it is feasible. We make that decision based on the home’s condition and size, cost to rehab, and whether the home can be made energy efficient.
In addition to St. James’s thoughtful donation, the Nilsson and Minkel homes completed in summer 2023 were built on lots donated by the City of Buhl. They have donated three more lots where we plan to build in the coming years. They are one of many municipalities that have donated lots to Habitat.
In 2022, the Armstrong family donated 6.7 acres of land in Hibbing. Developing those parcels will be a long-term project, but it offers exciting opportunities for our staff and board to work with city government and community partners. Kirk and Angie Weidner donated five lots in Cook, one of which already has a home built on it. A Chisholm lot donated by the Dickman family had a house that was since torn down, giving us space for a new home.
Anybody can contribute to our mission, but if you own real estate you think might be useful for Habitat, we would be happy to speak with you! The current real estate market and changes in how tax-forfeited property can be sold has made finding buildable lots even more vital. Call us at 218-749-8910 or email habitat@nslchfh.org to see how we can work together to build homes, communities, and hope.
This post was originally published on October 18, 2023, and was updated on December 23, 2024.
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