Habitat for Humanity completes 60th home in Aurora

Posted April 23, 2018 11:00 pm

Aurora resident Lawella Szweda, an Air Force veteran, receives a ceremonial house key from Cornell Shaw, board member of Montgomery-based Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity, during a dedication service of her rehabbed home in Aurora. From left are Szweda's daughters Brooke and Paige. Courtesy of Al Benson

Submitted by Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity

Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 60th local home March 3 on George Avenue in Aurora.

The celebration at the homesite featured a presentation of house keys and a family Bible to future homeowner Lawella Szweda and daughters Brooke and Paige.

The Rev. Jeffrey Barrett, Habitat CEO, led the dedication service. He is pastor at Genesis Community Church in Montgomery, site of Habitat's offices.

The service culminates a five-month rehab of the two-story by hundreds of volunteers. An indoor "groundbreaking" ceremony was held Sept. 28.

Volunteers included East Aurora High School students led by building trades instructor Kurt Roley. Under Habitat's Building Future Initiatives program, Tomcat students worked on roofing, siding, and other projects.

East students worked on four Habitat homes in the 2015-2016 school year said Ron Kelso of Yorkville, Habitat board chair.

"A retired teacher, I had a vision to have high school students learn vocational construction skills by working at Habitat homes," Kelso said.

Project sponsors included Kane County Riverboat Fund, Illinois Attorney General settlement, First National Bank, Republic Bank, First Midwest Bank, Ply-Gem, Advocate Roofing and EverDry.

Founded in 1989, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity is an Aurora-based ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Fox Valley Habitat has built or rehabbed 60 homes in Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 200 people. Fox Valley Habitat is an independent affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International.

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people.

Volunteers and donations of funds, materials and services are needed to continue Fox Valley Habitat's ministry. For more information, call (630) 859-3333, email info@foxvalleyhabitat.org or visit foxvalleyhabitat.org.

At the dedication, East Aurora High School building trades teacher Kurt Roley, left, reviews work his students performed on the rehab. From left are Roley, Ron Kelso, Fox Valley Habitat board chair; and Marina Kosak, principal, East Aurora High School. East students worked on roofing, siding, and other projects under Habitat's Building Future Initiatives program designed to teach prep students construction-trades skills. Courtesy of Al Benson

Lawella Szweda, second from left, greets guests before the dedication service for her rehabbed Habitat for Humanity home in Aurora. Montgomery-based Fox Valley Habitat completed the project, the volunteer group's 60th rehab or new-construction home in Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery since 1989. Courtesy of Al Benson

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