On a hot summer day in South Jamaica, Queens, NY, Petro team members Rob Dibona, Marco Acosta, Chris Behrens, Jeffrey Hughs, Amaury Mateo, Mohammed Uddin and Anthony Vega from Maspeth, NY joined Habitat for Humanity and other volunteers giving an old house a new lease on life to help local families in need of affordable housing.

The home was an unoccupied “Zombie House” for over 15 years. An eyesore and serious safety concern for neighbors, it was infested with pests and the structure itself was unsafe. Habitat for Humanity had spent the last year refurbishing the home, to provide housing for a local resident.

The Petro team was tasked with removing plywood security fencing and steel posts set three feet into the ground. Not an easy job but everyone made fast work of it. Habitat for Humanity expected the job to take two days but our team finished it in one! This was the final step before the landscaper could wrap up his work in the front and back yards. All the volunteers were delighted to see the smiles on neighbors’ faces as the fencing was taken down and the new home was revealed. Habitat for Humanity will see that the house is sold to a family in need, helping the new owner with financial and upkeep training that will hopefully allow this beautiful new home to be passed down through the generations.

Huge thanks to everyone who worked on this project! Everyone was happy to help provide some much-needed affordable housing and bring a little beauty back to their neighbors in Queens!

About Habitat for Humanity
Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org.