Aurora Habitat to dedicate 60th home Saturday
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity will dedicate its 60th local home at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at 775 George Ave. in Aurora. The public is invited.
The celebration at the homesite will feature presentation of house keys and a family Bible to future homeowner Lawella Szweda and daughters Brooke and Paige. Refreshments and self-guided tours will cap the event.
Rev. Jeffrey Barrett, Habitat CEO, will lead the dedication service. Rev. Barrett is pastor at Genesis Community Church in Montgomery, site of Habitat's offices. A Habitat warehouse is at 250 S. Highland Ave. in Aurora.
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.
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.