On September 13 and 14, Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky (HONK) provided two days of volunteer labor, materials and supplies to a local church through the non-profit organization’s Summer Community Service Project, continuing a tradition started seven years ago.
This year’s recipient of HONK’s community outreach was Ida Spence United Methodist Mission, located in the City Heights neighborhood of Covington. Gina Cornelius is not only the minister at the Ida Spence Mission, but is also HONK’s Housing Counselor.
Over two days, 20 volunteers removed worn and tattered carpet from the sanctuary, which also serves as an all-purpose room, and performed other maintenance, including repairing an entry door and painting.
“We have been working on raising funds to replace the flooring in the sanctuary for the past two years,” said Cornelius. “To have a group come in and remove the torn carpet is saving us a significant amount on labor. This will allow us to move forward with the new flooring much sooner than we initially anticipated.”
The Summer Community Service Project recognizes the importance of building the community, says HONK’s Construction Manager Steve Lutkenhoff: “We have been supported by so many in the community that we feel it’s important to share this blessing by giving back to a community organization that helps local families.”
Ida Spence Mission serves both the physical and spiritual needs of local residents, enriching the lives of underserved children in the City Heights community by providing, nutrition, education and mentoring.
The Mission also provides rent-free space to a clinic that provides health care to the residents of City Heights, removing transportation as an obstacle to receiving care.
Lutkenhoff says selecting Ida Spence Mission for this project recognizes the invaluable service Cornelius and the Mission provide to the community. As Housing Counselor, Cornelius works with HONK client families to get them mortgage-ready and help them understand the responsibilities of home ownership.
The Summer Community Service Project started in 2013 in response to a request from Our Savior Parish in Covington. Since then HONK has provided volunteer labor to churches, non-profit organizations and individuals through the annual event.
Founded in 1991, HONK addresses the need for good quality affordable homes using an innovative lease-to-own program that helps people to become homeowners.
More information on HONK is available here.
Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky
