More than 200 employees of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC recently became home builders for a day, setting to work with hammers and nails to frame two houses for Ohio families in need.
The construction project took place on June 15 at Bendix’s Avon, Ohio, headquarters, in collaboration with two Habitat for Humanity Ohio affiliates – Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County and Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County – as well as Help Build Hope.
After building the frame of each house, the Bendix volunteers used permanent marker to inscribe messages and well-wishes on beams and walls. The houses were then loaded for transport and donated as Habitat for Humanity homes: one for Wayne County, which is south of Cleveland; and the other for Champaign County, which is west of Columbus. Construction will be completed on each home later this year.
The effort marks the sixth year Bendix has built homes, after taking a hiatus from 2020 to 2022 because of the pandemic. With a count of 15 homes completed to date, including the 2023 build, this labor of love is a much-anticipated and highly popular part of the Avon team’s community-engagement calendar. Rain or shine, the group has racked up more than 7,000 volunteer hours by 1,730 employees who have eagerly pitched in to help.
“Bendix has a lasting commitment to building communities and positively impacting our neighbors,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix senior director, environmental, social, and governance. “Our employees, through their inspiring generosity, are the heart and soul of that effort. Framing the walls of houses for fellow Ohio families is one way we live the company culture, striving to put our social responsibility to work and make a difference.”
The company purchased the wood for both houses, a total of approximately $10,000. In addition, Bendix contributed $1,750 to the roof fund, wall transportation and plywood sheet purchase of each Habitat chapter.
“The house builds are part of the company’s ongoing dedication to supporting nearby communities across its North American footprint and aim to grow active social involvement among employees through leadership and project management experience,” Bendix said in a news release.
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage.
Habitat for Humanity in Wayne County, based in Wooster, Ohio, became an official Habitat affiliate in 1986. Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, based in Urbana, Ohio, has been an affiliate since 2003.
Help Build Hope, a program of CrossRoads Missions, nurtures sustainable relationships with individuals and communities across America through the framing of new homes. The organization works with partners like Habitat for Humanity to enhance community impact and create hands-on opportunities for all ages through home building.
