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Continental Team Hammers Homes for Habitat for Humanity

Members of equipment manufacturer’s staff help build homes for needy

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Employees of Continental Girbau Inc. recently contributed to a Habitat for Humanity project near the company’s headquarters here, the company reports.

Two Continental teams donned hard hats and tool belts in an effort to build an ADA-compliant “twindominum” to accommodate two special needs families, according to Christine Skupus, director of finance administration. “Continental’s Executive Committee has donated financially to Habitat for Humanity for several years, but we wanted to take those contributions a step further,” she says. “As a work family, we feel very blessed and wanted to help others who aren’t as fortunate.”

In doing so, the Executive Committee launched a more aggressive and ongoing philanthropic campaign to give back to the Oshkosh area community and those in need. A third group of Continental team members was slated to help Habitat again this month.

“One home is being built for a family of five with a teenager with cerebral palsy,” said Skupus. “The other home is being constructed for a single mother with two children under the age of 2. Her adopted nephew has sickle cell syndrome.”

Habitat works in 1,400 communities across the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries and has helped 9.8 million people achieve strength, stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable shelter.

Kim Kallas, accounting clerk for Continental, enjoyed working with her co-workers on the project.

“It made me feel good to be part of a company that is involved in the community and helping others,” she says. “It was nice to work with others in the company who might not work together on a daily basis. I can’t wait to do it again.”

Already making plans for the holiday season, Continental has launched a companywide campaign for The Salvation Army’s Adopt-A-Family. This holiday program is designed to assist families who are in crisis as a result of unemployment, homelessness, medical issues or other difficult circumstances, and who otherwise wouldn’t have the resources to celebrate the holidays. Families who are adopted are provided with food, clothing and gifts from their sponsors.

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Team members of Continental Girbau Inc. lend a hand to a local Habitat for Humanity project in Oshkosh, Wis. Pictured here is one of three groups to help out at the Habitat site: (from left) Joel Jorgensen, Courtney Krepline, Wesley Kraemer, Karen Washebek, Neal Gadzinski, Sarah Griffin, Seth Willer and Kelly Zabel. (Photos: Continental Girbau Inc.)

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Other Continental Girbau employees who have assisted Habitat for Humanity are (back row, from left) Andy Davis, Matt Lehman, Kim Kallas, Laurie Kilgore, Matt Schlimgen, (front row, from left) Renee Lienhard, Julie Zeitlow and Kim Loderbauer.

Have a question or comment? E-mail our editor Bruce Beggs at [email protected].