Habitat breaks ground for 32nd home

A groundbreaking last Sunday at 525 E. Washington St. marked the site of the 32nd Habitat for Humanity home in Sisters.

The future home of Robin Tawney and her daughter Mikaela will be part of a duplex.

Marie Clasen opened the ceremonies asking for a moment of silence for Germaine Kaufman, who was to have occupied the other half of the duplex but died a few weeks ago.

The ceremony included a ceremonial smudging by Keith Brandt to cleanse and purify the site.

According to Family Partner Sharon Anglea, Robin was born and raised in Portland, owned a gallery in Lincoln City and five years ago moved to Sisters with Mikaela “to dry out” from the coastal rain.

Various jobs led to her current position at Garden of Eden.

Both Robin and Mikaela have earned part of their “sweat equity” through volunteer work in the Habitat Thrift Store.

Robin gave a brief history of her relationship with Habitat. She said, “The most special thing we’ve gained is support and friendship. When other ladies I was volunteering with would learn we were getting a house they would say, ‘Well, I’ll give you 25 hours.’ Just like that. What amazing, special people they are.”

Building Committee Chairman Larry Lennon supervised the ground-breaking, then the 60 people in attendance joined hands to recite The Lord’s Prayer.

Following the groundbreaking, a potluck dinner was held at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration for four Coe College Collegiate Challenge students and their chaperones. Jim Wooldridge, self-described chauffer, drove the 1,850 miles from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Sisters in three days. Wooldridge’s wife Deb is the faculty advisor.

Students making the trip were Deborah Stone (from Chicago, Illinois), Hannah Ross-Suits (Grants Pass), Rachel Andrews (Buffalo Grove, Illinois), and Amy Veal (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). Hannah is expecting her family to visit from Grants Pass while she is here.

The students are excited to be part of the Habitat experience, are glad to be here, and are ready to go to work. Jim Wooldridge, who took vacation time for the trip, said, “How can you not support a group of college kids on their spring break who want to do something for somebody else?”