Weyerhaeuser Partners With Habitat for Humanity
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The dream of home ownership is now a reality for families in three states and one Canadian province, thanks to Mount St. Helens and a new partnership uniting Weyerhaeuser and Habitat for Humanity.
Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest integrated forest products companiesh, had announced plans this spring to build at least 25 homes to mark 25 years of forest growth and renewal since Mount St. Helens erupted, spewing ash worldwide and leveling Weyerhaeuser forests in southwest Washington. Strong interest from Weyerhaeuser employees and customers has since propelled that number to 32 homes.
Four homes are now complete in the following communities: Marlton, N.J.; Marlboro, S.C.; Paris, Texas; and Windsor, Ontario.
Weyerhaeuser's $1 million "Project Habitat" campaign is delivering grants from the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation and Weyerhaeuser lumber to local Habitat for Humanity affiliates across North America. Also, construction for each home is incorporating some special lumber from Mount St. Helens trees planted 25 years ago, following the 1980 eruption.
Weyerhaeuser employee volunteers and customers are now building13 homes in the following communities:
- Selma, Ala.;
- Hot Springs and Fort Smith, Ark.;
- Colbert, Ga.;
- Kansas City, Kan.;
- Louisville, Ky.;
- New Bern, N.C.;
- Hillsboro and Albany, Ore.;
- Lynchburg, Va.;
- Longview, Wash.;
- Edmonton, Alberta; and
- Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
"The connection to Mount St. Helens continues to generate tremendous energy for this project," said William R. Corbin, Weyerhaeuser's executive vice president for international and industrial wood products. "The linkage goes back to 1980, when Weyerhaeuser stepped up to give the forest at Mount St. Helens a fresh start after the eruption. Now we are using lumber from this new forest to shelter families in need of a new beginning.
