our vision
A world where everyone has a decent place to live.
our mission
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build and renovate homes, to revitalize our communities and restore hope. Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity serves the communities in Grundy County, Illinois and the Village of Channahon.
who we are
Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity was founded on July 26, 1996 by Randy Hancock. He was part of a group that returned from a mission trip to rebuild homes with Habitat for Humanity International after Hurricane Andrew. Recognizing the local need, Randy and the volunteers began gathering friend, donors and contractors to take up Habitat’s work in Grundy County.
Randy was a local businessman who owned Hancock’s Jewelry. He adhered strongly to Habit’s principles and often spoke of how important it is to “put our faith into action and to clothe love in working clothes”. Randy passed away unexpectedly in June 2004, but his vision lives on through the many volunteers who support our local HFH chapter.
In 2011, the chapter entered in to agreement with the City of Morris to purchase five lots in the 900 block of East North Street, located on the site of the former Federal Paper Board. Habitat is purchasing the lots one at a time for $24,500 each and has completed homes on four of the five available lots. This is the affiliate’s first subdivision, the Hancock-Page Subdivision, and it is named for Randy and another early champion of our work, Janet Page.
In response to a gap in services to assist struggling home owners with repair, the affiliate launched “A Brush With Kindness” in 2016. ABWK is an exterior home repair program which helps low income homeowners complete repairs to maintain their home. In its first year, the chapter served four families through the program, providing yard clean up, tree removal, door and deck replacement and building wheelchair ramps.
The following year, the affiliate expanded on this program to launch “Aging in Place”, specifically targeting fixed income seniors who need adaptations to stay in the homes they own. Simultaneously, the affiliate broke ground on its first home in the Village of Coal City.
In 2018 the 13th Habitat home was completed and the Board of Directors has set goals of helping 10 separate homeowners in our community through our renovation programs.
about grundy-three rivers habitat for humanity
Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, durable place to live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all.
all are welcome
Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat for Humanity has an open-door policy: All who believe that everyone needs a decent, affordable place to live are welcome to help with the work, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, political views or any of the other distinctions that too often divide people. In short, Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and also serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion. As a matter of policy, Habitat for Humanity International and its affiliated organizations do not proselytize. This means that Habitat will not offer assistance on the expressed or implied condition that people must either adhere to or convert to a particular faith, or listen and respond to messaging designed to induce conversion to a particular faith.
about habitat for humanity international
Founded in Americus, Georgia, USA, in 1976, Habitat for Humanity today operates around the globe and has helped build, renovate and repair more than 600,000 decent, affordable houses sheltering more than 3 million people worldwide.
milestones
1996
Grundy-Three Rivers Habitat Founded
1997
First House Rehabbed
(Channahon, IL)
2002
Second House Built
(Carbon Hill, IL)
2004
Broke Ground on Third House
(Gardner, IL)
Broke Ground on Fourth House
(Morris, IL)
2008
Broke Ground on Fifth House
(Gardner, IL)
2009
1st Annual “Randy Hancock Golf Outing” held at Nettle Creek Country Club in Morris, IL
2010
Broke Ground on Sixth House
(Gardner, IL)
2013
Broke Ground on Seventh House
(Central City, IL near Braceville)
2014
Broke Ground on Eighth House
(Central City, IL near Braceville)
Broke Ground on Ninth House- 1st home in Hancock Page Subdivision (Morris, IL)
Broke Ground on Tenth House- 2nd home in Hancock Page Subdivision (Morris, IL)
2015
Broke Ground on Eleventh House-3rd home in Hancock Page Subdivision (Morris, IL)
2016
Broke Ground on Twelfth House- 4th home in Hancock Page Subdivision (Morris, IL)
2017
Launched “A Brush With Kindness” Exterior Home Repair Program, completing four projects
Launched “Aging In Place” Home Repair Program to help low income senior homeowners stay in their homes, completing first project
1st Annual Radio-A-Thon – presented with WCSJ FM 103.1 – an all-day event sharing in the mission of Habitat
Broke Ground on Thirteenth House- 1st home in Coal City
2018
Completion of the 13th Home which is located in Coal City for the Glen and Beth Hill Family
Goal set to complete 10 renovation projects (ABWK and AIP programs) for 2018. A goal to help 10 separate homeowners located in Grundy County.
May 10th – 2nd Annual Radio-A-Thon – raising awareness