Loading...Jason and Alicia Dalton and their twin girls Jazmine and Lily, will soon own a home whose build was funded by two Episcopal churches: Church of the Resurrection, Loudon, through its August “Ribfest 4 Homes” fundraiser, and St. Elizabeth, Farragut. The home was constructed by volunteers from both churches.
A house blessing, key presentation and dedication ceremony for the new Loudon County Habitat for Humanity home was held June 24 at Hope Haven in Loudon. The Daltons were not the only family celebrating at the event; the Cuevas family also received keys to their dedicated and blessed new house. More than fifty people were present for the day’s dedications which marked 23 houses built in the Hope Haven community. The community was to have its first homeowners meeting following the dedications and a celebration lunch.
Alicia and Jason, holding their daughters who were in new dresses for the occasion, accepted the keys to their house from Andrew Wilkinson, Habitat Build Project Chair and Church of the Resurrection member. Bill Bannow from St. Elizabeth, said, “It is a great pleasure to present these keys. They will open a door to a new and happy chapter in your lives.”
“It means such a great deal to have a house – actually having floor space – having room for my babies to walk,” Alicia said. She said that the family’s sofa barely fits in the living room/kitchen space of their current residence.
When asked what she had learned in the process leading up to the dedication, Alicia said “I learned to hit nails with hammers!”
Jason grew up in Loudon, but Alicia lived in Florida and Colorado before settling in Loudon.
Shari Dalton, Jason’s mother, explained the process that her son and Alicia have almost completed for ownership of the house. “It takes a lot of work,” she said. “They had to work about 500 hours – in 'sweat equity' helping build other people’s houses, and also working at the Habitat Store, taking classes on construction safety, finance management and some others. But it’s great,” she said. “It really helps people get started.”
Anita Russell, whose Hope Haven 2010 house build also received funds from Ribfest 4 Homes, said, “We haven’t had one of these since 2010 – I’ve been looking forward to this all week!”
Shauna Oden, executive director, Loudon County Habitat for Humanity, said that the families need to complete a few more steps, but will soon own their homes. “They will make mortgage payments to us that will be a gift back to the community to build other homes for families that need them.” She then held up a sealed, stamped envelope, saying “Loudon County Habitat for Humanity covenants with Habitat for Humanity International. In this envelope there is a check; we send a tithe every time we build a home. We now have 45 homes all around the world.”
The Tellico Village Garden Club presented gifts of garden tools that can be used in the homeowners’ yards. The Tellico Village Quilters presented a quilt to each family.
Dave Sponsel, President of the Board of Sponsors for Loudon County Habitat for Humanity presented a bible to each family. “I love to be able to present a bible to our families,” he said. “It has the answers to how to live our lives and answers to the trials and tribulations that come before us. When I visit, I want to see it used a little bit, not chewed on by the dog,” he said. “Good luck!”
Rector Claire Keene of Church of the Resurrection, blessed the Dalton’s house, and Pastor Alfonso Marquez of Iglesia Pres. Cumberland Misericordia blessed the Cuevas home.
A member from each family then picked up a saw and cut a board that will be used in the construction of the next Hope Haven home.
The event concluded with a celebration lunch for those present at the ceremony, with much of the fare cooked and provided by the Guevas family.
The families still have a little bit more work to do before they actually move in, but their houses are waiting for them, blessed with love from the surrounding community, volunteers and churches that sponsor and support them.
About Ribfest 4 Homes 2012:
Help build a house and join in the fun at the Ribfest 4 Homes 2012 fundraiser!
Ribfest 4 Homes 2012 will be held August 18 on the grounds of Church of the Resurrection, 917 Pond Road Loudon, TN 37774.
If you like barbeque ribs, sweet corn, crafts and blue grass music in a family-oriented event that raises funds to build Habitat for Humanity Homes, then we hope to see you on August 18, 2012.
We could not be successful without our many sponsors, volunteers, cook teams and general public who support us throughout the year. Your generosity and donations the past three years has helped us build our 2nd Habitat home in Loudon County.
Sponsors are Pilot, Green Mountain Coffee, Channel 8 HD Volunteer TV, Merle 96.7 FM Total Country Radio, The News Herald, Wampler’s Farm Sausage and Wild Wing Cafe
Loudon County Habitat for Humanity is a Christian ecumenical housing ministry that builds simple, decent, affordable, energy-efficient houses in partnership with low-income families. For more information, call (865) 458-0704.
