Swannanoa man remembered in Habitat for Humanity wall raising

Press release from Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity:

East Valley community members are finding a cause for joy and celebration in memory of Dave Bassett, a former Swannanoa resident who died of brain cancer in 2010. The first wall of a Habitat for Humanity house to be built in his memory will be raised on Friday, June 21st at noon in Swannanoa. His widow, Sylvia, and daughters, Gennie and Sara Bassett, have called upon those who knew and loved Dave to raise $55,000 in his memory to sponsor the house. The family has been working on this for almost two years, and thanks to multitudes of small donations – $15, $25 at a time—and a large $5,000 gift from Dave’s former employer, Arkema—they have almost reached their goal.

Dave Bassett was on the board of directors for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity when he received his terminal prognosis. He had served on Habitat’s property committee and was passionate about finding buildable land for Habitat in the East Valley. Right before Dave died in 2010, Lew Kraus, Asheville Area Habitat’s executive director, told Dave that Habitat had purchased enough land in Swannanoa to support 17 Habitat houses.

Also paired with Dave’s House is an Adopt-a-Lot sponsorship in memory of Meryl Elizabeth Snyder given by the Snyder & Whilden families. Meryl Elizabeth Snyder passed away when she was just 18 years old. The Adopt-A-Lot sponsorship of $10,000 helps to pay for the land upon which the house is built. The Snyder and Whilden families asked to be paired with Dave’s House, and David Whilden, a member of Habitat’s board of directors, will also speak at the wall raising.

Rochelle Thom and her two children, Tamia and Nayeem, will purchase their 3 bedroom/1.5 bath house at 0% interest from Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Rochelle will contribute 200 hours of sweat equity, helping to build her neighbors’ homes, taking homeownership classes, and volunteering in the Habitat ReStore prior to purchasing her home. The wall raising promises to be a very special event filled with memories of Dave Bassett and Meryl Elizabeth Snyder and a celebration of a new future for the Thom family.
About Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity
Celebrating 30 years, Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity has welcomed 246 Buncombe County families to safe, decent and affordable houses since 1983. Habitat homes, which are Green Built North Carolina certified, are sold at no-profit to partner families, who pay back a no-interest loan. The non-profit also offers a home repair program for low-income homeowners. Visit ashevillehabitat.org for more information.