Habitat finds office for new hire
Terry Cowgill
June, 26, 2008
SALISBURY — Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Connecticut, an affordable housing group, has hired Dona Olinger as administrative coordinator.
Since Habitat did not yet have local office space, Susan Dickinson, manager of the Lakeville office of Litchfield Bancorp, suggested Habitat share an office with the Salisbury Rotary Club, already located upstairs in the Bancorp building on Main Street in Lakeville. Both Habitat and Rotary agreed to the arrangement.
But there was office furniture needed. That’s where Salisbury Bank & Trust (SBT) came in. SBT was planning to renovate its Salisbury branch, and the two office cubicles used by mortgage advisors Erin Selby and Mona Staaf-Hoffman were no longer needed. SBT immediately stepped up and offered them to Habitat and the Rotary Club. Selby is also on the Habitat board.
Former Habitat president and volunteer John Pogue then rallied a group to paint the office and set up the office furniture. The volunteer group included George Massey, Fred Romeo, Eliot Robertson, Mike Kelly and Ian Kallgren.
Olinger has an extensive background in nonprofit volunteer management and in business, including a stint as manager of Community Lumber (now Herrington’s) in Lakeville. She is also slated to be ordained next year as an interfaith minister.
Habitat is currently building a home in Falls Village for Dinnie and Wesley Light. The home on Lime Rock Station Road is scheduled to be completed this summer. Fundraising for these and other projects is ongoing and two events are planned this summer.
The annual Home Show was held June 21 at Lime Rock Park. The popular Habitat tag sale at The Hotchkiss School Athletic Center will be held Aug. 8 to 10.
