Wayne County Parade of Homes will show off house being sold to benefit CAMO projects

• Central American Medial Outreach on a $5 million capital campaign mission to benefit Hondurans.
• Donations to build the house reached 80% by the end of May.

A home under construction in Marshallville holds special significance for the charitable organization Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO), headquartered in Orrville.

Spearheaded by the Home Builders Association (HBA) of Wayne and Holmes Counties, the project represents a local collaboration with global benefits to be showcased at the Parade of Homes, Sept. 20-22 and 27-29.

Ground was broken May 8 for the home being built at 8664 Akron Road. Proceeds from the sale will help fund medical resources, training, education, revenue-generating initiatives and other services for the disadvantaged and underprivileged citizenry of Honduras through a $5 million capital campaign to expand CAMO's facilities and outreach.

When approached to be part of the fundraiser, project manager Michael Downs, MD Custom Builders in Orrville, acknowledged he wasn't familiar with CAMO, but he soon learned of its mission.

Kathryn Tschiegg, the founder and director of CAMO, said two days following the presentation of a 15-minute video about the organization to the HBA board meeting in February, she received a phone call saying HBA approved the home construction project and "would like to take it on its entirety."

Help came in the form of a group taking on entire project

CAMO had been looking for volunteers, Tschiegg said, but instead found a group not only wanting to help, "but take on the whole thing."

"A huge blessing," she said.

Downs said Tschiegg "was looking for some help getting this home built and sold," and he had already done a similar program for the Boys and Girls Club in 2020.

"I'm all about trying to donate back to (beneficial) organizations," said Downs, who had heard about CAMO doing "a lot of great things. Every year we try to find a special project," though it isn't possible to do something "of this caliber" each time.

But with every project, contractors can make a difference in communities, he said.

Businesses, suppliers, volunteers come together to make it happen

"It's good to show nonprofits working together," he said, noting this project is a collaboration of "a lot of different businesses and suppliers locally."

Ben Schrock, Shrock Custom Homes, is the HBA chairperson for the Parade of Homes. After hearing the presentation made by Tschiegg and Dennis Horst, former part-owner of Dutch Kitchen in Dalton, "it was a no-brainer for HBA to partner with CAMO during our annual Parade of Homes," he said.

"They believed in what we're doing and took it over," Horst said.

Horst was the one who conceived of the idea years ago, Tschiegg said. "He always dreamed of doing this. He had the heart to get it going," and HBA added the engine power.

"(Downs) has graciously shared his time and joined Dennis in overseeing the project," Schrock said.

"It is amazing how many local tradesmen and suppliers have stepped up to donate labor and materials," he said, pointing out it is an overall win for everyone involved.

Horst said the project has been "so blessed with subs," in addition to labor either volunteered or charged at "next to nothing."

House will be showcased at Parade of Homes, raising CAMO awarness

"It's very exciting to consider how much money the project should raise for CAMO," Schrock said. "When the public tours the house for the Parade of Homes, it will raise awareness of CAMO's mission. And ultimately a lucky family will be the proud owner of the new home."

The home project recently reached 80% of the donations needed to build it, Les Miller, 89 Homes, HBA chairperson of the board, said. "We anticipate a pretty big chunk of money to go to CAMO."

Although there will be some construction costs not covered by donations, "we're pretty happy with how it's turning out. A whole team of people is pulling for this. We help each other out," he said, referring to team members, including builders, general contractors and sub-contractors.

"We're at $1.4 million (in the campaign)," Tschiegg said the week of May 27.

"In this world, at this time," Tschiegg marveled at the community effort "outside of the normal walls we build."

"We're hoping the word gets out about CAMO," Horst said, adding, volunteers are needed for tasks such as sorting items and packaging them for shipment to Honduras.

"There are all kinds of things (to do)," said Horst, who served on the CAMO board for eight years. "We have a lot of great people and need more."

Anyone who helps "will feel good about what they're doing."