The Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity (RVHFH) recently held a topping-off ceremony for one of four homes being built in Franklin Township, N.J.

Dick Carr, president of the board of RVHFH, addressed volunteers Dec. 14, including employees of Foley Inc., in the New Brunswick, N.J., suburb.

“There have been a tremendous number of volunteers that come and sacrifice and spend their time doing this work,” he said. “The community of Franklin Township and the neighbors have been very cooperative. So we’ve been working in a very favorable environment, which is nice.”

Carr expressed his gratitude to Foley Inc. and its volunteers.

“After 50 years of success in this community, they [Foley Inc.] really are celebrating that success by being major sponsors and by taking on this project and giving back to the community. In this topping-off ceremony, we are putting in place houses that for generations beyond all of us standing here will be warm, safe and dry places for families who need affordable housing,” he added.

Jamie Foley, president of Foley Inc., also spoke during the topping-off ceremony.

“We are very proud of being a part of building these homes,” he said. “We stand here just a few weeks away from Christmas, the season of giving, and it’s a fun way for us, as an organization, to give back to the community. Part of what we aspire in our mission is to build a better place to live [in New Jersey], and I think we’re doing part of that today and the coming weeks and months as we help build these houses.

“It’s also very nice to meet the families who will live in these homes. It’s a neat feeling that a year from now these families will be enjoying the Christmas season in these homes,” he added.

RVHFH broke ground on the four ranch-style homes in September 2007 on Girard Avenue, in Franklin Township and expects to finish construction in late spring 2008.

For the project, Foley Inc., of Piscataway, N.J., is a signature sponsor, which is the largest corporate sponsor on a given project. In addition to providing funds and workers, the company also has donated the use of its rental equipment.

Somerset County HOME Funds, Franklin Township, Building on Faith Church Partnership and Habitat Youth also have supported the construction.

Carr wrapped up the ceremony by saying, “We all have an opportunity to really make our communities a better place. We read the newspapers and watch TV and there’s all this division and negativity, but there’s a tremendous number of people in this country who are willing to get together to make the United States a better place … and something like this here in Franklin Township is an example of how we can get together and make this country much better.”

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