Sisters habitat throws a block party

Sisters Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 25th anniversary, honored World Habitat Day, and broke ground on its 58th and 59th Habitat homes in Sisters last Sunday. The block party and groundbreaking ceremonies were held at the corner of Brooks Camp Road and McKinney Butte Drive, which is the site of Habitat's 17-lot Village Meadows community.

Community members and neighbors from the surrounding area and Westside Church were invited to come to see the house plans, meet their newest neighbors, learn more about Habitat, and share a barbecue with Habitat board members and volunteers who make it all possible.

Toni Landis, chair of Habitat's board of directors, welcomed the crowd of more than 60 people then turned the microphone over to Executive Director Sharlene Weed, who explained that the property was purchased from a bank over five years ago and, thanks to sales from donations to the Thrift Store and the ReStore, individual contributions, grants, and all the hours of time donated by volunteers, Sisters Habitat has paid off the loan and is ready to start building this community, one house at a time.

"We know people who are homeless, living in their cars, families that are doubled up in one household, families living in dilapidated, unsafe housing," Weed said. "We know families who struggle with making rent payments that are more than half of their incomes."

In honor of World Habitat Day, Weed asked those in attendance to pledge to add their voices to the global movement of people calling on lawmakers to support systems and policies to make affordable, adequate housing a priority. In Sisters, a total of 149 families - over 500 people - have safe, affordable homes because of Habitat and the over 250 volunteers who work thousands of hours a year to bring good housing to our town.

Darleene Snider, Habitat's construction manager, introduced some of her construction volunteers and invited anyone with the desire to pound some nails to sign on and join in the fun. She gave an update on the two Habitat homes on E. Cascade Ave. She's hoping for a November 1 completion.

Landis then introduced Selah Broderick and her family partners who helped her through the yearlong process leading to this happy occasion. Paula Reents and Betty Shuler expressed what a wonderful deserving person she is and what a hard worker she has been to achieve her sweat equity hours.

Broderick thanked the Habitat volunteers for making her part of their family, which is something she hasn't had much of before.

"Thank you for your love, for your compassion," she said tearfully. "Thank you for showing up for me."

Next Landis introduced Alexandra Lantaler and her daughter Jessica, a first-grader at Sisters Elementary School, and their family partners. Dixie Fairfield and Jan Shaver described Lantaler's journey to Sisters from Brazil where she spoke only Portuguese and has had to not only learn a new way of living but also a new language - a language she first thought was impossible to learn.

Lantaler asked the people who had been meaningful to her during the past year to join her so she could thank them individually for all they did to help her achieve her dream of owning her own home, which she did most eloquently in English.

"Life is hard and full of challenges, but it is full of love," she said. "You never know if you can do it if you don't try."

She's now learning Spanish and American Sign Language, and if you need any Portuguese translated, she's available.

Following the groundbreakings, Father Ted Rodrigues from the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration gave a blessing for the ground that only good may grow from it. HOA presidents from Trout Creek Village and Brooks Camp Village welcomed the new homeowners to the neighborhood, and Jerry Kaping from Westside Church invited them to bring their children to their playground and if they need anything, just ask and church members will be glad to pitch in.

Ground broken and speeches over, the chow bell rang and the crack Habitat chefs were ready to start cranking out their delicious burgers and wieners. It was a beautiful day, and there was a wonderful feeling of community in the

air.