14 Custom-built Playhouses were constructed during the annual Muskingum County Project Playhouse event, organized by Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio with support from presenting sponsor Lepi and Associates Real Estate Services, 14 different businesses, and 150 volunteers.
“The premise of the event is, first of all, it’s a fundraiser for Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio. All the proceeds will go to support our programs in Muskingum County,” Missy Best, the Director of Community Engagement for Habitat in Muskingum, Morgan, & Noble Counties explained. So, the sponsors are matched up with families that are in the low to moderate income levels with small children. The families tell us what the kids’ favorite colors are, design ideas, themes, if there are any certain themes, and then the sponsors get to work. They design everything. They show up the day of the event, and they get painting, and they build, they shingle the roof, and it’s a fabulous day for everybody that’s involved.”
On Friday, October 10, volunteers gathered at the Muskingum County Fairgrounds to work toward the common goal of bringing smiles and tons of hours of enjoyment to children who could benefit from a playhouse.
“We built 13 playhouses at the event today, and then we have one being built off-site,” Best said. “It’s an excellent team-building day for our sponsors, and at the end, a child’s blessed with a playhouse that might not have otherwise had that opportunity.”
Some of the staff and carpentry students at Mid-East Career Center teamed up to work on a playhouse for sisters Anyiah and Aryiah Tabler.
“I never expected something like this. It’s so nice, and they were so happy,” said Chelsey McIntire, the girls’ mother. “It’s so much craftsmanship into it. It’s beautiful. They did a great job. They’re going to enjoy it.”
About 20 volunteers from the Mid-East staff pitched in to make the playhouse a reality for the girls. They took special care to bring the family’s suggestions to life by creating a fun Stitch design, complete with wooden cut-out hibiscus flowers, palm leaves, and the characters Stitch and Angel. Custom-sewn curtains hang in the playhouse’s four windows. One of the most interesting design choices incorporated into the lavender playhouse is the large Stitch character that was custom cut to look like he is bursting through the back of the house. Stitch-themed items decorated the inside of the playhouse, including two backpacks hung on the wall on either side of a Stitch table and chair set, complete with two stuffed Stitch toys sitting in the chairs.
“This is our fifth year, so we’ve been with the project since they started it five years ago. This is our fifth whole house, and just the ability to give back to the community, and we’re able to use our carpentry students from our Zanesville campus to help us cut out the really cute designs, to help build. It’s a practical experience for them, but then it also shows them how important community service is too,” said Kim Tatman of Mid-East.
“I always like to let people know that it takes a community to build a community,” Best said, “and Project Playhouse is a prime example of that, of people coming together to help their neighbors.”
For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Ohio, visit habitatseo.org.
CAPTION: Anyiah and Aryiah Tabler pause from playing in their new playhouse briefly for a picture. The girls received one of 14 custom-built playhouses as part of this year’s Project Playhouse event by Habitat For Humanity of Southeast Ohio. The house was built by Mid-East Career Center carpentry students and career center staff from the Zanesville campus.