A Warm Welcome Home: Blankenship Place Featured in the Sebastopol Times

There are some days that remind you exactly why we do what we do.

This past Saturday, Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County gathered with four families, community members, volunteers, donors, trade partners, local leaders, and friends to celebrate the upcomingcompletion of Blankenship Place, our four-home development in downtown Sebastopol. And now, we’re thrilled to see this special day featured in the Sebastopol Times [Read the full story here].

“Welcome Home”

The afternoon began with words of welcome from Habitat leadership and a blessing from Sheri Pool of the Center for Spiritual Living, followed by remarks from Sebastopol Mayor Jill McLewis andSonoma County Fifth District Supervisor Lynda Hopkins.

Mayor McLewis welcomed the families to their new community with a simple and powerful message: “On behalf of Sebastopol, I just want to say welcome home.”
Supervisor Hopkins spoke about what it means not only to have a home, but to truly belong to a community. “You are cherished and you are honored and you are part of our community. We are so thrilledto have you here.”

She also captured something at the heart of the Habitat model: that homeownership isn’t about giving and receiving charity. It is about co-creation: families, volunteers, donors, partners, and the broadercommunity working together to build a future.

Honoring a Habitat Legacy

Blankenship Place carries a special name and an even more special legacy. The development honors Jack and Phyllis Blankenship and their longtime commitment to Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County. Jack, who passed away in 2021, was a founding force behind Habitat’s ReStore and was affectionately known as “Mr. Habitat” for his dedication to helping local families build strength, stability, and self-reliance through homeownership. During the dedication, their son, Mark Blankenship, shared memories of his parents and presented each family with an antique lantern that belonged to Jackand Phyllis. The lanterns were a beautiful symbol for the occasion: a piece of one family’s history being carried forward into the homes and lives of four new families.

Gifts From the Community

The celebration continued with gifts that reflected the many hands and hearts behind Blankenship Place.

The Moonlight Quilters of Sonoma County generously created handmade quilts for the adults and children in each family, gifts designed to bring warmth, comfort, and a little extra feeling of home as the families prepare to move in. “These quilts were such a special part of the ceremony,” said Rachel Jeffries, Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County’s Director of Community Engagement & Fund Development. “The kids especially were ecstatic for their new quilts!”

The families also received wooden keys signed by all the Home Dedication attendees, and those who helped make Blankenship Place possible. It was a beautiful lasting reminder of the community thatstands behind them.

Opening the Doors Together

After the speeches and celebrations, everyone gathered with the families and walked together to their new front doors. Then, together, they opened them.

After months of construction, countless volunteer hours, partnership, planning, hard work, and community support, four families are nearly home. The homes at Blankenship Place are in the final stages ofcompletion, with the families expected to move in by the end of September.

Looking Ahead

The dedication was also a moment to look toward what’s next for Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County. As we celebrate the completion of Blankenship Place, we are already looking ahead to future home builds (there are two immediate builds in the pipeline in the next three years) and the relaunch of our Aging in Place home repair program, which helps low-income seniors make critical repairs that allow them to remain safely and independently in their homes.

There is more work to do, and we are grateful to have a community that continues to show up for it.

Thank you to the Sebastopol Times for capturing this special celebration and helping share the story of Blankenship Place with our community. A special thank you to Poppy Bank, our Home Dedication event sponsor, for helping us celebrate this incredible milestone. And a big thank you to every volunteer, donor, trade partner, sponsor, community member, and supporter who helped bring these four homes to life.