Families celebrate Habitat for Humanity

Sisters Habitat for Humanity introduced two new families, and single moms Chris Nelson and Angela Galan to the neighborhood on Cowboy Place last Saturday.

The afternoon's welcoming festivities kicked off with prayer, well-wishes and thanks to those who made it all happen.

While Nelson talked about how blessed she felt to be so strongly welcomed into a neighborhood, her oldest son summed up the day's meaning, saying he was excited for Mom to have something that was hers.

Months of preparation happen behind the scenes to create a new Habitat home. Among the Habitat staff are Sharlene Weed, Executive Director and Marie Clasen, Program Manager, who is responsible for families, volunteers, building crew and coordinating activities.

There are also volunteers and workers at the Habitat Thrift Store and ReStore, where new homeowners may put in their 500 hours of sweat equity, which must be completed before moving into their new home.

Then there are people like Chris Mayes, Architect and local resident who contributed his design of the Nelson home. Sub-contractors such as R D Cole who does the concrete, M & W who works on electrical, GT Contractors who do the digging, Three Sisters Plumbing, and stores like Hoyt's Hardware & Building Supply, Lutton's Ace Hardware and Sisters Harvest Basket also pitch in.

Along with them are businesses, churches and organizations who contribute time, money, and their own form of sweat equity to make the homes Habitat builds year after year appear as if by magic in front of our eyes.

There is no profit and no interest charged for these homes.

New Habitat homeowners have to fulfill a list of criteria to apply for their new home and Marie Clasen is there to help them with the paperwork.

Key to the success of their application, says Executive Director Weed, is the willingness to partner with Habitat over the long haul.

It's more than just the hours of work. It's being in the public eye, being a representative of Habitat in the community, and continuing to be a partner long after moving into their new home. It's a long-term commitment that, without volunteers, could not happen at all. Many people come together to make the miracle of a Habitat house, Weed stated.

Angela Galan and her four daughters are moving into an already constructed Habitat home, bought back from prior recipients who moved out of the area. Angela and Jessica started their sweat equity last year contributing an average of 30 hours per month. For Angela those hours are in addition to an already full-time job.

The Galan Family, like the Nelsons, is moving from an apartment to a home. Daughter Kimberly, age six, said, "I think it's going to be great having a back yard."

For Mom Angela this home is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream to be able to provide a home for her family.