More than 50 members of the Laurinburg Rotary Club heard Habitat for Humanity of Scotland County Executive Director Susan Covington speak on her organization's new facility on McColl Road in Laurinburg. The club's meeting was held Tuesday at the Clinton Inn.

Following opening remarks by Rotary Club President Lisa Blalock and an invocation by Harald Hughes, Covington was introduced by Bill Hill, a former Habitat board member and current volunteer who had invited the director to appear.

"Habitat took a leap of faith by moving into their new store, and I thought this group would be interested in knowing its progress," Hill said during his introduction of Covington.

Taking the podium, Covington explained that members of her organization " ... had initially sought an existing location in downtown Laurinburg for our new store, but soon learned that no available structure suited our needs," she said. "We knew we had to do something, because our facility lacked handicapped access and our bathrooms were upstairs. Even some of our homeowners couldn't come upstairs to our offices to make payments."

Following research on the cost of renovating, Covington realized that it didn't make sense to stay.

"We looked at 15 other Habitat chapters in the region, and learned that all had new stores and were 100 percent successful in relocating. All encouraged us to build."

A site was found on Highway 401 South in Laurinburg, and the new 12,000 square foot facility opened in November of last year.

With the cost of the new offices and store came the responsibility of keeping Habitat's house construction plans on target.

"Our finance department told us that in order to continue our plan of building three to four houses a year, we would have to increase our sales at the new store by 50 percent," Covington said. "I'm happy to say that so far we have consistently reached that amount."

On track for 2009 and beyond, Habitat's newest house will be built Sept. 8 on Sugar Road in Laurinburg with four more planned for next year. It will be the 37th constructed by the organization since the Scotland County affiliate began in 1992.

As more families apply for assistance, Covington said Habitat's biggest challenge is keeping up with those who qualify.

"We have a long waiting list," she told the assembly. "Three families will move into houses this year with four more set to move next year. We presently have seven approved with five near to approval. Some of these families will have to wait up to two years for a house."

The Habitat for Humanity store at 12340 McColl Road is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Donations are taken those days and also on Mondays.

"We don't buy any inventory," Covington said. "Our money comes only from donated goods."

Covington thanked Rotary members for their donations and support.

"You guys helped us," Covington said to the Rotary members. "Thanks in part to your contributions, we are on the road to being at the level we want to be."

Habitat volunteers will come to a home to pickup unwanted items and will clean out houses at the family's request when a relative has died. For more information call 276-3337.

To apply to become a Habitat homeowner, Covington invites applicants to call the organization's offices to make an appointment or visit the location to pickup information.