Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity enjoys big year

Record donations helped the Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity improve the lives of several hundred area residents in 2013.

The group received $1.9 million in donations, which allowed it to construct six new homes and help dozens of other people with their home repairs.

"We are extremely pleased with the successful 2013 year," said Ed Blake, executive director of the group. "It wouldn't have been possible without the many volunteers contributing to our cause. We will ensure this momentum continues in 2014."

Millard and Linda Fuller of Georgia founded the organization that builds homes for those who have difficulty affording them both in the United States and throughout the world in 1976. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn became actively involved with the organization in 1984.

The Salt Lake Valley Habitat for Humanity follows the goals of his parent organization by trying to build affordable homes for working families in need. The group, which can be found on the web at www.habitatsaltlake.com, has built more than 90 homes in Salt Lake County,

Families moving into the six new homes the group built in 2013 earn only 30 to 60 percent of the area median income and are unable to afford a home on their own without assistance.

In addition, the group completed 73 home repairs through its Green Healthy Homes Initiative. That helped 157 people including 59 children, 15 senior citizens as well as veterans and the disabled.