WARSAW — For many nonprofit organizations, the generosity of community members is a necessary part of being able to accomplish their mission.

For Kosciusko County Habitat for Humanity, that means donations of “time, talent and treasure.”

According to Executive Director Mickey Kaufman, a common misconception about Habitat for Humanity is that the houses are given away for free. This is not true, she said. Recipients, called partner families, pay a no-interest mortgage on their homes. They must also put in a certain number of hours into the construction process.

One way Habitat is able to do this is through “time and talent,” meaning volunteer labor. Members of the community volunteer their time on each house, knowing they are building for their neighbors. Volunteers are also needed for things like office work and a variety of other areas. The staff, with the exception of Kaufman, is entirely volunteer.

Kaufman’s husband, David Kaufman, has volunteered as construction supervisor since the 1980s and has a saying that, “an organization can only be as good as the community support behind it.”

“So we need community support,” he said.

Kaufman noted that Kosciukso County Habitat is also looking for a volunteer coordinator to make things go more smoothly.

As far as “treasure,” this can, of course, include funds, but it can also mean furniture, appliances and materials to sell in local Re-Stores.

Proceeds from Re-Stores throughout the area go to support Habitat projects. Kaufman noted that plans are in the works for a Kosciusko County Re-store, where locally donated items can be sold and the proceeds used for local home builds. Until then, donated items are taken to Re-Stores in South Bend or Goshen.

Kaufman emphasized that Kosciusko County Habitat is supported entirely through time and funds from within the county.

“Nobody outside the county is supporting this,” she said. “This is Kosciusko county.”

The same goes for volunteers, she added.

Another misconception is that the houses are built for the homeless. However, that is not within this particular organization’s scope.

“We don’t do emergency housing,” Kaufman said.

Those interested in donating to or volunteering for Kosciusko County Habitat for Humanity can call (574) 269-4104 or email [email protected]. Additional information is available via the Kosciusko County Habitat for Humanity website.