Dedication celebrates a new home for local family
Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County has accomplished what they set out to do months ago – build a home with a family in urgent need of one. The newest Habitat for Humanity home in our community was dedicated on August 30, 2010 at 5 pm.
Over 80 people gathered to celebrate the hard work, the generous financial backing and the community support that made this home possible. Homebuyer, Karen Hildebrandt is more than just a little eager to move into her new home. She has completed 200 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build the home, a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity.
Six businesses combined efforts to sponsor the 26th Habitat home located in Douglas County: Alexandria Extrusion, Bremer Bank, Douglas Machine, Pro-Tainer, Quick Attach and Tastefully Simple donated funds totaling nearly $40,000. Habitat also recognized the 14 businesses that provided in-kind donations.
A local quartet, Gospel 4 sang “Bless this House.” Pastors from Lake Community Church, Melody Warren, Jeff Pankratz, and Ron Berget participated in the dedication program.
Mike Loken, Habitat Development Volunteer, presented Karen with a bible and keys to her home. Karen and her sons Graham and Erich thanked the Habitat volunteers & donors for building their new home. Jeanne Frederick, Habitat volunteer mentor, partnered with the family to plan sweat equity hours during the construction of the home and will work with the family after moving in to ensure a smooth transition to home ownership. The family was presented with quilts from Grace Church and the Lakes Area Quilters Guild.
In addition, to the celebration of the new Habitat for Humanity home, the affiliate also took time to acknowledge the 28 homes the Douglas County affiliate has helped build overseas. Lori Anderson, Executive Director said, “Our affiliate participates in the home for a home campaign. Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County donates 10 percent of its general contributions to help support the building of homes with families in need in Nicaragua.”
Photo from left to right: Graham, Karen and Erich Hildebrandt, homeowners, and Jeanne Frederick, Habitat volunteer mentor.