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Keeping a Habitat Home Pest Free

Spartanburg, S.C. - As summer approaches, countless creepy crawlies are waking up and making their way into our backyards. Many Habitat homeowners remember rental situations in which pest problems abounded, so they’re eager to learn how they can keep their new homes pest-free.

In May, the Neighborhood Support Committee of Habitat Spartanburg partnered with Gary & Cameron Corbin of First Choice Pest Control and Rev. Stuart Jones, a longtime Habitat volunteer and former Habitat Board Member, to give them a lesson they’ll not soon forget. Gary & Cameron’s interactive training covered pest control basics from prevention to extermination, and they provided all attendees with several practical giveaways. They emphasized the prevention of termites and bedbugs, as these infestations can be extremely difficult to eradicate. Children were given coloring pages and bug kits, and Cameron led them on an exploration to find and identify bugs in the area.

Stuart brought a variety of live snakes and handled them in front of the class, even allowing attendees and their children to hold some of them. He talked about snake identification and behavior, explaining how to make one’s yard a less desirable habitat for snakes and how to respond if anyone spots a snake on their property. He also invited Habitat homeowners to contact him if they ever need help removing a snake from their homes.

With more than 20 attendees, most of whom were Habitat homeowners and participants in the homeownership program, the impact of this class was truly measurable. We were also thrilled to have some children from Pauline-Glenn Springs Elementary in attendance, as they have done so much to support our program by raising funds and volunteering in recent months. Following the program, several attendees followed up to let us know how much they learned, how much fun they had, and how impressed they were by the knowledgeable and well-prepared event facilitators. We would like to give a HUGE thanks Gary & Cameron Corbin and Rev. Stuart Jones for doing such an amazing job putting this program together. Thanks also to the Neighborhood Support Committee at Habitat Spartanburg for coordinating this program, especially Kristin Gray for her work as a spearhead, and Southside Baptist Church for allowing us the use of their facilities. This awesome program would not have been possible without your support, so THANK YOU for making it happen.