Something you might not expect to see in early morning traffic in line with school buses and commuters alike, is a large truck hauling a section of a house. ‘Just where could it be heading’, you think as it turns off of Pennington Road and into a quiet and well established neighborhood of Ewing. If you were to follow it, you’d find a once empty lot sitting amongst cape cods and shade trees, now full of promise for a local family as the modular home is placed upon its foundation.
This house is an affordable homeownership project by Habitat for Humanity of Burlington and Mercer Counties (Habitat BMC), a local housing nonprofit, and Benebone, a leading brand of durable chew toys for dogs. Both Habitat and Benebone believe in bringing wellness to families, and together their partnership will bring a new, affordable home to a local, income-qualified family to purchase this fall. The two-story modular comes equipped with major features already installed, making it ready for volunteers to put on the finishing touches. Benebone employees will come out to the worksite during the Month of September and take on projects like painting, porch building, and landscaping.
The remaining work on the home is expected to be complete in just a few short months. Habitat and Benebone hope to welcome the family home before the end of the year holidays. The future homeowner, Jasmine Leonard, had happy tears in her eyes when she was chosen last week as Habitat’s Partner Family through a lottery selection. Jasmine is a single mother of two young children, Ja’Ciona and Hiztori. She currently lives in Trenton in a small two-bedroom apartment, where her kids must share a bedroom. Jasmine has been looking for a safe and affordable place to call home for her and her girls for quite some time, and with this opportunity through Habitat she is excited to complete her sweat equity and attend financial classes so that she can make that dream a reality for her family.
This home is special for so many reasons, and Habitat is endlessly thankful to have built this relationship with Benebone which has led to the company sponsoring the construction of this home in Ewing, from the foundation to the front door. This build is no random happenstance, either! The neighborhood is located very close to birthplace of Peter Toolan, who is one of Benebone’s founding partners. Peter, along with his father Jim Toolan, founded Benebone in 2012 and have led the company to much success through their growing line of durable chew products for dogs. Now, they’re determined to give a local family the “paw-up” they need to build a brighter future for themselves, their family, and their furry loved ones.
Follow this affordable housing journey and stay up to date on key events like the home dedication ceremony through Habitat’s socials @HabitatBMC on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Interested in helping the Leonard Family’s dream of homeownership come true? Shop at Habitat BMC’s ReStores in Hamilton, Maple Shade, and Egg Harbor, contact volunteer@habitatscnj.org and come out to the work site, or simply donate today at www.habitatscnj.org/donate.
About Benebone
Benebone is a leading brand of USA-made durable chew toys for dogs. The company’s simple mission is to make lives better for dogs and the people who love them. Benebone’s core values center around awesome products, building and serving communities, and a good dose of fun. Learn more at www.benebone.com.