In support of Habitat for Humanity, SOPA Square will be hosting a Community Artisan Fair on Friday, May 21st from 1:00pm-6:00pm in the 3000 block of Pandosy.
Enjoy an open-air special event market with local artisans, produce, food vendors and live music across the street from SOPA Square Discovery Centre, 3013 Pandosy Street.
Artists include CuRio Designs, Blowfish Glass Works, Gardens to Go, Starfish Stone, Betula Organic Skin Care, Miss Matching, painter Jody Bruce, Natay Dezine, Natasha Harvey, Divine Expressions, Om Naturale Herbal Care, painter Nikki Balfour and Karen Wentzel Jewellery. The Capers and Envoy will perform live music.
The site of SOPA Square spreads over 1.79 acres in the 3000 block of Pandosy. On it sits seven building that will be deconstructed. The way old buildings are demolished is different from the days gone by. Gone is the wrecking ball and the endless truckloads of rubble that are dumped into our landfills. Any material that can be reused or recycled will be stripped from each of the buildings before the heavy machinery begins. SOPA has decided to partner with Habitat for Humanity to help with the enormous task of recycling and repurposing material from the build site. As well, SOPA’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity connects to our philosophy of community and sustainability.
The Habitat for Humanity movement was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia. The program developed from the concept of “partnership housing” where those in need of adequate shelter work side-by-side with volunteers from all walks of life to build simple, decent houses.
In 1985 the movement spread to Canada with the formation of the first Canadian affiliate in Winkler, Manitoba. From these simple beginnings, the Habitat for Humanity movement in Canada has grown to 72 affiliates in 10 provinces and two territories and has been successful in placing more than 1,400 families into new homes.
In Kelowna, Habitat for Humanity has built 18 homes since 1992 and needs ongoing support to continue doing the good work of housing people in our community. They are in great need of affordable land and cash donations to build homes. As holders of the mortgages on the homes they build, each home generates cash flow to help build the next one. And, with respect to the nature of how the homes are built and provided to the families, equity sharing formulas are put in place to prevent the family from turning the home for a quick profit.
Items from the SOPA Square build site that Habitat for Humanity can use for their projects will be donated to them. All other items are being offered to the public for a cash donation to Habitat for Humanity.
“We very much appreciate the generosity of the good folks at SOPA Square,” said Lona Manning, executive director.
“Habitat for Humanity Kelowna, like SOPA Square, is committed to environmentally sustainable building practices and the building materials salvaged from the SOPA Square construction site will help build homes for low-income working families with children right here in Kelowna,” said Lona Manning.
Habitat for Humanity is a registered Canadian charity and a tax receipt will be issued to all donations over $10. Anyone interested in used building material please contact Nicole Dobranski by email at: nicole@sopasquare.com or telephone: 250.762.5818 ext 8.
For more information check out www.habitat.ca
