Habitat for Humanity Towns/Union Counties dedicates its seventh house

"BEFORE" Groundbreaking for The Thompson family home with parents Bobby and Misty Thompson, and their four children Brayden, Kaylyn, Nolan, and baby Bobby Ray.

On Saturday, April 26, some 60 people gathered at the site of the most recently built Habitat for Humanity home for its dedication. Blessed by moderate temperatures and overcast skies, the ceremony began with a welcome from Elizabeth Lashley, President of the Habitat for Humanity Towns/Union Counties' chapter. Pastor Dave Wesche from All Saints Lutheran Church gave the opening prayer. Many individuals representing the different working/contributing factions of the project participated in the "Litany of Thanksgiving." Sonny Mahon (construction committee), Joe Scerbo (Confidence United Methodist Church), Denise Ashworth (Board member), Ralph Kwiatkowski (workers coordinator), Emily Price (family support representative) and Bobbi Tower (church relations committee) each spoke to the purpose and inspiration for building a Habitat for Humanity home. Following a responsive reading of a prayer, several very special items were presented to the new occupants of the house: a Bible (presented by Pastor Wesche), the keys to the house (turned over by Larry Mancini, Treasurer), specially crafted quilts, one for each member of the family (created by the Mountain Presbyterian quilters group), and a pantry full of food (purchased by Meg Gring Whitley with CROP Walk funds). After the family had an opportunity to express their heartfelt thanks for all the generosity of which they were beneficiaries, the ceremony ended with a song ("Home of Love"), the prayerful dedication of the house with all participants laying their hands on the new structure, and the benediction by Pastor Wesche.

"AFTER" Participants of the dedication ceremony visit the completed Thompson home. The specially-made quilts (one for each member of the family) and the list of volunteer organizations are displayed on the front porch.

When the father of the family finally opened the door of the new home, everyone present took a brief tour of the fourbedroom, two-bathroom house, which has a porch along the front of the house and a small deck out the back. Built on a slope, the basement area will provide valuable storage space. A circular area surrounding a fire pit, the place where workers would linger after a long day's work, has been stoned in so that the family can cook out, and in so doing, recall fond memories of all the weeks of building that brought to fruition the dream of having a house of their own. On behalf of the Thompson family, infinite thanks to all those who made this project possible. God bless Habitat for Humanity and all the hearts and hands that built this new home.