Aurora Habitat for Humanity dedicates 62nd home
With prayers, presentations and an open house, Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 62nd home since 1988 on Sunday, Jan. 13, at 1551 Solfisburg Ave. in Aurora.
To culminate the celebration, Brian Bare, Habitat board member, presented a ceremonial house key to the future homeowners Juventino and Marisa Marrufo of Aurora, sons Manny and Alexis and grandmother Soledad Martinez.
Habitat officials and volunteers also presented handmade quilts, a family Bible and housewarming gifts including a loaf of bread, box of slat and bottle of wine to the Marrufo family.
Project lead sponsors were Oxford Bank and Trust Co. of Oak Brook and Euclid Insurance Services of Itasca. Offering remarks were George Colis, Oxford board chairman; and John Colis, Euclid president and CEO. Bruce Glawe, Oxford CEO also attended.
The Colis brothers displayed a replica check for $150,000 to fund a 2019 project in Aurora.
Since 2004, Oxford and Euclid, Colis family-owned firms, have contributed more than $200,000 and volunteer labor to six Fox Valley Habitat projects in Aurora.
In addition to 1551 Solfisburg Ave., they were 34 N. Farnsworth Ave., 415 Sherman Ave., 1326 Pearl St., 1557 Solfisburg Ave., and 650 West Park Ave.
Other sponsors were Ferguson Products, Whirlpool, Cintas, Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity, Yale, Sherwin Williams Paint, Home Depot, AAA Garage Doors, Ply Gem, Lift Master, 84 Lumber, Delta Faucets, 5 Star Rentals, O-Cedar, Heidi's Cake and Pastry, Winding Creek Nursery, and CertainTeed Siding.
Volunteer groups included Nicor Gas, Grace United Methodist Church, Aurora University Campus Chapter, COUNTRY Financial, St. Katharine Drexel, DM Associates, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Our Lady of Mercy, AuSable Grove Presbyterian, Hilti, North Central College, Community UMC, Stryker, Boy Scout Troop 849, Congregational Church of Batavia, Next Doors and Windows, Valspar, the Builders Club, First Centennial Mortgage, O-Cedar, and IHS Markit.
Marisa Maruffo said, "Thank you for this wonderful blessing. We are surely grateful for having been chosen to receive a Habitat home. Having a home of our own will help our family become more independent and it will be enjoyed by all who visit us.
"We express great joy to all those who volunteered and donated funds and items to make our home a reality," Maruffo said. "So many people from all walks of life put in long hours to build this home for our family and the scriptures and words of encouragement that are in our walls will be cherished for more than a lifetime."
"A huge thank you to our sponsors: Oxford Bank and Euclid Insurance, for believing in the mission and continuing to fund more homes for families like ours. God bless you all and thank you for helping our family," Maruffo said.
An open house with refreshments and self-guided tours concluded the dedication.
The Marrufo home features four-bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, attached garage and a handicapped-accessible entrance/exit. Carpeting, appliances and landscaping are included.
Ground was broken for the home in April. The dedication ceremony culminates work on Thursdays and Saturdays by 300 volunteers from the Chicago area.
Founded in 1988, Fox Valley Habitat is based at Genesis Community Church in Montgomery and serves a 10-mile radius of Aurora. The volunteer group is the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International of Americus, Ga., a Christian, nonprofit, nondenominational housing ministry dedicated to eliminating substandard housing.
Donations and volunteers are needed to continue the ministry in the Fox Valley. Since its founding, Fox Valley Habitat has constructed or rehabbed 62 dwellings housing more than 200 persons in Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery.
For information, call (630) 859-3333 or visit www.chicagolandhabitat.org.