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.
As we enter the summer months and move closer to the finish line of our Blankenship Place project in downtown Sebastopol, we pause with gratitude as countless moving pieces come together all at once.
We’re also pleased to officially welcome Gilberto to the Habitat team as our new Crew Lead! Gilberto first joined us as a volunteer through the Santa Rosa Junior College Construction Corps program. Months ago, he helped build the retaining wall and fence when the project site was still little more than a dirt lot. Since then, he has consistently demonstrated an outstanding work ethic, a willingness to learn, and a deep commitment to Habitat’s mission. We are excited to have him join our team and look forward to the contributions he will continue to make both on this project and future builds.
This season also brought an important milestone for one of our future homeowners. Kerrily has officially completed her sweat equity hours, marking a significant step on her path to homeownership. Throughout the process, Kerrily brought determination, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of community to the build site. She also rallied an impressive network of friends, family members, and coworkers from Sonoma County COTS to volunteer alongside her and her future neighbors. A Sonoma County native who grew up in Sebastopol, Kerrily has dedicated much of her career to supporting others through her work in the nonprofit sector. Now, she is building that same sense of stability and opportunity for her own family in the community she has long called home. Kerrily’s accomplishment reflects the perseverance, partnership, and hope that make Habitat’s homeownership program possible. We look forward to celebrating this milestone alongside her and her fellow homeowners at the Home Dedication this fall.
Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County was honored to be named one of Impact100 Sonoma’s 2026 Grantees, receiving support to help relaunch our essential home repair program for low-income seniors.
At the same time, there is no other organization in the county providing comprehensive, coordinated emergency home repair services for low-income seniors at scale.
