Alkermes assists with Habitat project

“This means so much to me and my family, thank-you.” Said a humble but, appreciative Brandon Wipperman to the assembled group of Alkermes employees early Friday morning May 20. They had come to frame his Habitat for Humanity home on the corner of Vine and Howard Streets in Wilmington.
“This is unprecedented. It is the first time in our local Habitat organization’s history that a company has committed their workforce to a build day,” said Bob Schaad, an HFH board member.

The phrase many hands make light work certainly fit, as the well organized group of more than 30 people had planned out the steps needed to make the framing day a success. They came prepared and worked well with Schaad and building manager volunteer Bob Hufford.

Alkermes’ commitment began last winter when Nicole Stinson, Lead Process Engineer, asked the local Habitat organization for a big job. “We wanted to do something that would bring many employees together,” said Stinson.

“I am surprised that more companies don’t do this,” said Stinson. “It was a great team building for us. Meeting Brandon and his wife, Jaimee, their daughter Zoey was powerful for all of us to know how important this home will be for them. We built a little hope on Friday,” Stinson said. “We are challenging other companies to get their hammers and folks out to Habitat.”

After this first corporate success, Schaad and Hufford are eager to involve more companies and their employees. The Wipperman house is the second home to be built this summer by Habitat for Humanity Clinton County.

“We are depending on the kindness of our community to build two homes. We need help on Tuesday nights and Saturdays to get this second one done by late summer,” said Hufford, who is the volunteer leader for the HFH crew, but also is in the home improvement business profession.

“Call the Habitat for Humanity office, 937-655-9484 and schedule a time when we can work out the details, if you want to bring a group to our work site. Anyone is invited to help and we need all the hands we can get,” said Schaad.