Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity welcomes new homeowners in Randolph
May 19, 2026 | By Waterbury RoundaboutEditor’s note: The following is from a Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity news release.
New homeowners Rose and Mediatrice (on left) speak at a recent Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity housewarming event in Randolph. Courtesy photo
On a recent chilly Sunday afternoon, community members, volunteers, students, and project partners gathered in Randolph to celebrate a major milestone for Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity and welcome new homeowners Rose and Mediatrice to their new homes.
The May 3 event marked the completion of the organization’s first two-unit multi-family development and first panelized home project—an innovative construction approach that helped accelerate the build process while creating hands-on educational opportunities for students and volunteers.
Gus Seelig, executive director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, read a poem as sunshine broke through the clouds, creating a memorable and uplifting start to the celebration.
Several additional speakers shared remarks at the event.
Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity’s board president, Ed McDonough, welcomed guests at the Central Street location and thanked the many donors, volunteers, subcontractors, and community partners on the project.
Kendal Smith, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor, highlighted the project’s workforce development impact and the partnership with Randolph Technical Career Center, whose students contributed more than 3,100 hours to the project’s construction. State Treasurer Mike Pieciak added to the chorus along with a video message from U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt.
Speakers emphasized the importance of expanding affordable homeownership opportunities across Vermont and the role community partnerships play in addressing the state’s housing challenges.
The new homeowners reflected on their journeys to homeownership and expressed gratitude for the volunteers and supporters who helped make their homes possible.
Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Zachariah Watson reflected on one of the most meaningful moments in the Habitat process—notifying future homeowners that they were selected for the program.
“Do you remember getting that call?” Watson asked the homeowners during the celebration. “I remember it clearly. Even though those calls are probably only .001% of what I actually do, it’s the best part of my job—being able to tell a family that they’re going to become homeowners is something I’ll never take for granted.”
A special gesture came from local resident Sue Schoolcraft, who presented seven handmade quilts to the families, symbolizing warmth, stability, and community care. The program concluded with a house blessing led by Pastor Amy Lignitz Harken of Bethany Church, who offered words of encouragement for the families’ new chapter.
The two new units are designed to be permanently affordable, ensuring that they remain accessible to households earning below 120% of Area Median Income if sold in the future.
Various contractors and suppliers contributed services and materials at reduced or donated levels for the project: Panelized construction was provided by Bensonwood, which also donated design services; Neil Husher of Architect Collaborative donated architectural design; Vermont Construction Company provided roofing services as a donation.
Numerous subcontractors and partners also contributed, including P&C Plumbing, Harmony Electric, Hutch Excavation, Kingsbury Company, YouthBuild, and Bellevance Landworks.
Funding partners included the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Northfield Savings Bank, the Vermont Community Loan Fund, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and Eastrise Credit Union.
Volunteers played a key role in the building effort. Some 91 volunteers contributed 3,726 hours of labor. Volunteer groups included individuals from Randolph Rotary Club, Black River Design, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, Community National Bank, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Green Mountain Valley School, M&T Bank, OBRA, and Vermont State Housing Authority.
Volunteer Glen Seifert received individual recognition for individually contributing more than 1,200 volunteer hours to the project.
In addition, donations came from more than 400 individuals and major supporters, including Randolph Rotary Club, Lamson Howell Foundation, Bethany Church, and several regional banks.
The celebration concluded with tours of the homes and refreshments.