Published: March 27, 2007 11:17 am            

Habitat housing builds a community

Sunday was a beautiful day for more than one reason. On that day, area residents turned out for a groundbreaking ceremony for the second Habitat for Humanity home in Clinton. This one will be inhabited by Heather Kline and her children, who were present for Sunday’s ceremony and were able to turn dirt over to celebrate the event at Iowa Avenue and 19th Place.

The house is happening as the result of work by the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Pastor Elizabeth Liggett had suggested the congregation take on a church project as part of the church’s centennial celebration. At a later brainstorming session, members decided to build a home for a low-income family in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Over the past year, the congregation of St. Paul Lutheran raised more than $50,000 to fund the project and donate an additional $5,000 to Habitat. Members started a pledge campaign last Easter and memorial money has been donated, including a donation from the family of Wesley Whitte, owner of a lumber yard and concrete company in DeWitt who died last year. In addition, members donated funds from confirmation service projects and Vacation Bible School students pitched in raising funds. Funding also was raised at the church’s annual fall festival and through a rummage sale on the church lawn last summer. Thrivent Financial matched the $3,000 raised through the Fall Festival. More than $1,500 was raised from the rummage sale in June.

As you can tell, this has been a cooperative effort that requires many skills — everything from organizational to hands-on building — and it takes a lot to make sure everything happens as it should when needed.

Congratulations to the congregation for making it happen and for giving a Clinton family a place that they truly can call their own.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.