Aurora Habitat for Humanity dedicates 55th home
With prayers, scripture reading and presentations, Aurora-based Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 55th Aurora-area home at 1229 Pleasant Place in Aurora on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The ceremony unveiled the future home of Aurora residents Ana Beltran and her son Fabio Jimenez.
The Rev. Jeff Barrett, Habitat CEO and pastor of Genesis Community Church in Montgomery, presided.
After Rev. Barrett introduced Habitat board members and guests, other speakers included Beltran, Jimenez, Bill Catching, Aurora Township supervisor; Linda Chapa LaVia, state Representative; Kurt Roley, East Aurora High School building trades teacher; and Juan Ramierez, pastor, Casa del Alfarero, Aurora.
Presentations included a copy of "Habititus," by author and Habitat board vice chair Ron Kelso of Yorkville; a family bible, presented by Julie Clark; and ceremonial house keys, presented by Debbi Albright, Habitat operations director.
Refreshments and self-guided tours of the house will close the ceremony.
The event culminated renovation work begun earlier this year by hundreds of volunteers. Project sponsors were Illinois Attorney General and Community Foundation of Fox River Valley, Aurora.
The 900 square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bath ranch house features a great room, kitchen, basement and shed.
Key volunteer church and corporate groups who volunteered on the project included Habitat homeowners, Wintrust, TD Ameritrade, Community Christian Church, Naperville, Aurora University students and faculty and East Aurora High building trades students.
Volunteers and donations are needed to continue Habitat's housing ministry.
Founded in 1989, Fox Valley Habitat, 250 S. Highland Ave. in Aurora, partners with working families in Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery to provide basic, affordable shelter.
Partner families pay for their homes with no-interest mortgages and contribute up to 500 hours of volunteer labor called sweat equity.
For information, call (630) 859-3333, email info@foxvalleyhabitat.org, or visit foxvalleyhabitat.org.