NATCHEZ — Habitat for Humanity is hoping to collect a little more of a key house-building ingredient this holiday season — sweat.

With the foundation down and floors coming soon at the newest Habitat house, volunteers are the No. 1 thing on the wish list of board President Andrew Calvit and Secretary/Treasurer Duncan McFarlane.

“The number of volunteers we have determines how fast we can build the house,” McFarlane said.

More specifically, the non-profit agency is hoping to recruit some large groups, perhaps from area churches.

“My appeal is to churches in the community,” McFarlane said. “They can bring 10 to 15 people at a time and that really speeds us along.”

McFarlane also likes return visitors, because more experienced Habitat volunteers learn needed skills along the way.

Of course, no volunteer is too inexperienced. Anyone over the age of 16 can work at the site and will be supervised by a crew that is skilled and ready to teach. Tools are provided.

“They don’t need to be skilled, but just have a good attitude,” McFarlane said. “We’ll put them to work. We just need somebody that comes with some enthusiasm.”

The local Habitat chapter has built seven houses in seven years on Smith Street, but has now moved to a new location on Zoa Street.

A single mother and her son will move into the newest house upon its completion.

Habitat residents are chosen by a committee and approved by the board based on need and current living conditions. Each resident undergoes a financial background check to ensure the owner will be able to pay off the house.

The owner must also put in 250 hours of physical labor on the house during the construction phase.

Then, the owner must pay off the cost of the house.

Habitat for Humanity sells the house to the owner at its cost and finances the 25-year mortgage at a 0 percent interest rate.

McFarlane said monthly payments are usually less than $300 and less than the owner was previously paying in rent.

Second to volunteers, the non-profit always needs donations of money, McFarlane said.

Habitat uses donations to purchase land and supplies.

Building supplies are also accepted, but McFarlane asks that, due to limited storage space, he be called to look over the supplies before donation.

McFarlane can be reached about supplies or volunteering at 601-445-8639.

Monetary donations can be mailed to the Natchez-Adams County Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 100, Natchez, MS 39121.