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Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity have begun work on the organization’s newest Powhatan home, which is being built for the Merrick family.
Of course, owing to Habitat’s policy, it’s also being built by the Merrick family.

Families who are selected to receive Habitat homes, which are built by volunteers and often use donated materials, must contribute a certain number of “sweat equity” hours on the construction themselves.

Though the ground breaking ceremony for Russell and Brenda Merrick’s home was held in September, the real building got started in earnest last Saturday.

Though a delay in getting the foundation inspected held them up to a degree, volunteers from Powhatan and Redeemer Lutheran Church in Midlothian spent the day backfilling the drains around the foundation and installing the sill plates for the walls.

Construction on the Merrick’s home is expected to be completed by March . The property, located in Lake Shawnee off Judes Ferry Road, was chosen in part for its proximity to major roads as well as county schools, said Habitat for Humanity Powhatan Director Donald Whitley.

Though the land for the Merrick’s home was purchased on the open market, Habitat has since been able to purchase eight additional lots through a county tax auction. Whitley has said he hopes these lots will help the group reach its goal of building two homes per year starting in 2009.