'Bruncheon' to aid Habitat for Humanity
The Glen Lake and The Leelanau School National Honor Society will host a benefit "bruncheon" on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Leelanau School dining hall.
The charge is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 12. Those under 6 will eat for free.
All proceeds will benefit Leelanau Habitat for Humanity projects.

MICHAEL MARTENS and Ashley Bronson
stand on the front porch of their Habitat
for Humanity home in Maple City that's
currently under construction.

When Michael Martens and Ashley Bronson were selected to participate in the Leelanau Habitat for Humanity home now under construction in Maple City, they embraced the opportunity.

Martens and Bronson, both employed at Leelanau Sands Casino, said they are pleased to be participating in the program that makes homes available to working families who don’t qualify for conventional or other government-assisted mortgage loan programs.

“When we began working on it about a month ago, it was just a skeleton,” said Martens of the home, which is located on Olivia Street just off West Burdickville Road. Martens works security at the Peshawbestown casino, while Bronson is a member of the wait staff. “It’s really coming along.”

Both currently live in Traverse City.

The program relies greatly on the efforts of volunteers, and in this case a number of people from the southwestern part of the county. The task force is made up of volunteers from St. Philip Neri in Empire, Empire United Methodist Church, Glen Lake New Life Church of the Nazarene, and Glen Lake Community Reformed Church. Among those working on the project are John Barker and Bill Merserve of Glen Arbor, Emery Blanksma, and Traverse City carpenter Tom Keith.

Merserve and his wife, Suzanne, serve as mentors to the partner couple, who must contribute 275 hours apiece in “sweat equity” before they move into the home.

“It gives you a great sense of satisfaction knowing that your helped build your home yourself,” said Martens, whose been living with his 3-year-old son with his grandmother in Traverse City.

Four principal criteria are used to identify partners, including a need for adequate shelter, ability to pay, willingness to partner, and residency.

Applicants must have the financial ability to meet total debt obligation. The total of all the monthly debt payments (including approximately $400 to $500 a month to Habitat for mortgage payments, taxes and insurance) should not exceed 40 percent of gross income.
Applicants must also have a satisfactory credit history and references.

Martens has worked for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians for three of his six years in the area.

“You’re working on a home that you’ll own, versus just renting,” Martens said. “You’re vested.”

Martens, Bronson and Martens’ son, Zachary, are scheduled to move in when the home is completed, possibly as soon as next month.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity, call 941-4663.