Habitat for Humanity of Douglas County

Featured Families

Meet our Partner Families

Cheryl Hull, her son Justin and daughter Kendra are grateful to be approved as Habitat for Humanity (HFH) partners. Cheryl is currently employed by Douglas County Maintenance and Justin is a cook at an area restaurant. The Hulls first heard about HFH through the newspaper and applied for a home in September 2010. Cheryl and her two children have had to endure some difficult living situations. First, they were in a two bedroom apartment which flooded. Then, they lived in a motel room for a month before another two bedroom apartment became available. The news that they had been accepted into the HFH program could not have come at a better time. Cheryl recalls, “We were told right before Christmas, so it was exciting and the best news to receive at Christmas time.” Cheryl and Justin have each contributed “sweat equity” hours on their home and on the homes of other Habitat partner families. Cheryl believes her life and the lives of her children will all change for the better when they move into their new Habitat home. In her words, “We will have more room, stability and a place we can call our own.” Although the Hulls did not know a lot about HFH prior to being accepted into the program, they do have one thing to say to all the volunteers, those who provide funding for the construction of their home and for the ongoing support, “Thank you for all your hard work and volunteering your time. [It is] very much appreciated.”

Cassandra Braford is a waitress at a bustling restaurant in Alexandria. She is also a provider for her mother, Jean Ann Braford, and her two children, Ramsey and Riyada. Currently, Cassandra rents a house near Millerville. As she explains, “The conditions in which we were living were not stable, but I have always had faith that God would provide for us.” She heard about Habitat for Humanity (HFH) through her employer and applied for a home in September 2010. Cassandra had worked with the family selection committee for a few months when she received a call and a visit from Janna Lindoo and Lori Anderson. She recalls, “I tried not to get too excited that [they] would be bearing good news. [T]hey handed me a manila envelope with my name on it . . . and when I opened up the envelope and started reading the letter welcoming me as a partner, we joyfully thanked God amidst hugs and tears.” Cassandra’s family will be required to complete 400 hours of “sweat equity” on HFH homes and she is excited about the positive changes that will occur when she and her family move into their new home. “Our family life will be more stable because we won’t always be looking for a better place to live. We will have more time together as a family because I will not be spending an hour commuting every day. There will be an ease of access to community resources and events and a better sense of ‘love thy neighbor.’ Our cost of living will be more within our means and we will save on vehicle expenses. The children will have a sense of security that is hard to have when you rent.” To all those volunteers, donors and mentors who will make the new home possible, Cassandra says, “God bless you and thank you.”

Leah Kumorowicz is a unit secretary and, more importantly, and a mother to John and Rachel. In 2010, while Leah and her family were going through a difficult time, her co-workers told her about Habitat for Humanity (HFH) and she applied for a home partnership. When Leah was told she had been accepted into the program, she felt an “immense and overwhelming sense of relief.” Leah and her children had been living in an apartment. She feels her life and the lives of her children will improve when they move into their new Habitat house because, “We will have a decent, affordable place to call home.” Leah completed her 200 hours of “sweat equity” and purchased her new in July 2012. She says, I enjoyed participating in the construction of our home amd am amazed at how quickly it was built.” Although Leah admits to knowing “very little” about the organization prior to being accepted as a Habitat home partner, she relates, “I have heard the volunteers are genuine and wonderful people. I have enjoyed meeting them and having them be a part of our lives, not just now, but they will be forever in our memories every day. Our home will be the constant reminder that there are people who do genuinely care about others. How generous and beautiful that someone would help me. ‘Thank you’ seems so small. I am and will be forever grateful for everyone’s help to provide a home made from a genuine sense of care, love and concern for others in this community.”

Scott Nohre and Christie Primus learned about Habitat for Humanity from public health nurses and family members after their daughter Sophia was born. Scott works as a crew foreman for Douglas Area Trails Association and Christie works at Knute Nelson. The family currently lives in an apartment in Glenwood. They explain, “It needs improvement and is not very safe for Sophia. Sophia uses some adaptive devices and our house needs to be wheelchair accessible and safe for her.” Scott and Christie believed if they were approved for a new Habitat Home, “Our lives would change greatly for the better because we would be so much closer to family and friends and, more importantly, provide a safe environment for our daughter.” They applied for a home in September 2010 and were contacted by phone with news of their approval. “We were in the hospital in St. Paul with Sophia. It was the week before Christmas. We were so excited, it came at such a good time. It was the greatest Christmas gift we could have asked for. Sophia doesn’t understand yet, but she will be so excited when we are moved in.” Both Scott and Christie will be required to do 200 hours of “sweat equity”. As with all Habitat partnerships, 40 of those hours can be donated by family and friends. Christie and Scott have completed their sweat equtiy requriements and purchased the home from Habitat for Humanity in July 2011. They exclaim, “It’s great to get to know the volunteers. We are looking forward to helping build our home and the homes of others. We are so grateful to know such wonderful people in the community where we will be moving. You [volunteers, donors, & mentors] are appreciated in so many ways. Thank you so much for showing us what kind of people we can become in the future and ways we can help, too.”

A special thank you to volunteer writers Joel and Susan Novak’.

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