Published: November 07, 2009 11:26 pm         

Habitat for Humanity starts house

TERRE HAUTE — Hammers slammed nails into the sub-floor of Mercedes Estremera’s new home Saturday morning.

“Thanks to Habitat for Humanity!” she squealed, hugging volunteers. “You guys are awesome.”

Work on the new house at 931 Gilbert Ave. was under way at 9:30 a.m., part of the group’s “blitz framing kickoff,” a Wabash Valley Habitat for Humanity Women Build project supported by the National Women in Construction organization.

Reanda Kirchner, president of Re-Construction Services, has been active in the organizations for more than year, and noted this is the first local Women Build project to get off the ground. “We’re looking at a finish in early spring, March or April, weather permitting,” she said of the Gilbert Avenue project.

About 50 volunteers were working away on the house, more coming and going, many from the Triangle Fraternity of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

Annette Houchin, executive director of the Wabash Valley Habitat for Humanity, said the group is wrapping up work on a new “Green Build” home on the city’s north side, hoping to have that one completed this month. “This is number 52,” she said of Estremera’s house, noting that the land had been a vacant lot donated by the city. “We’re looking at about 1,200 square feet, three-bed, two-bath,” she said.

Estremera, Carlos Hernandez, and their two sons, 16 and 10 years old, helped work on the project. Hernandez wore a Lowes nail apron, denoting the store’s sponsorship of the project.

The family has been waiting about five months for a house, Estremera said. “And finally the day came.”

Kirchner said the group had to raise about $25,000 to kick off the build, and still has another $25,000 for completion.

Women Build will host a wine pairing event Monday at Stables Steakhouse with proceeds benefiting that group and Habitat for Humanity

Women Build is Habitat’s volunteer program for women who want to learn construction skills and make a difference by building homes and communities.

Women Build projects are regularly conducted by Habitat affiliates across the United States, and by Habitat organizations around the world. Women at these builds have furthered Habitat’s home-building mission by helping to construct more than 1,500 houses.



Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.



More info

For more information on the Women Build Wine Pairing

dinner at Stables Steak House, call the Wabash Valley Habitat for Humanity office at 812-235-5914.