507 and 509 E Bradley, Champaign

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County joining national home-building alliance that will partner with 355 American families in 2007

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, area Lutherans and members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will break ground on two homes this spring. This partnership is a powerful opportunity to reconnect with Habitat's roots. We're grateful for their commitment to increasing to building relationships and strengthening our community.

According to U.S. Census reports, one in nine residents of Champaign County have to choose between decent housing and medical care, utilities and food. In offering a hand up not a hand out through purchasing a home at no interest, Thrivent Financial and area Lutherans are becoming partners in wellness and hope.

"I've seen how Thrivent Builds with Habitat is helping families get out of substandard housing and achieve their dream of home ownership," said Norm Fisher, Records Director of Champaign County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. "The home we built with Habitat in 2004 was very successful; we look forward to helping two more families work into home ownership in this area."

Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity brings together two national nonprofit networks of 1,699 Habitat affiliates and 1,362 Thrivent volunteer chapters. Locally, the Champaign Chapter of Thrivent volunteers will be helping with the homes. The need for an effort of this magnitude is great: More than 13 million U.S. households use at least half of their income to pay for housing. Millions more live in overcrowded conditions or housing with severe physical deficiencies, such as having no hot water, electricity or toilet.

Raise the Roof!

www.flickr.com habitatchampaign's 07 Thrivent Build photoset

On March 14, four stations of Illini Radio Group, Mix 94.5, WIXY 100.3, 92.5 The Chief and Extra 99.1 launched their “Raise the Roof” campaign to collect funds for two Habitat homes that will be built simultaneously at 507 and 509 East Bradley in Champaign. 

Illini Radio Group is partnering with Thrivent Builds Homes, a financial service agency for Lutherans, to start the homes this spring.  The ground-breaking ceremony for both homes is scheduled for Saturday, May 19 at 10am.   

Through their listener audience, Illini Radio Group has committed to raising $35,000 for the homes.  When approached about sponsoring the homes, Illini Radio Group jumped at the chance.  “It gives our staff and our listeners something tangible that they helped build.  It is important for people to know what they are giving to and who it helps.  Habitat home building projects have a clear outcome.  We will be helping two families get out of poverty and start a new life with a bright future,” said Alan Beck, Illini Radio Group Vice President and General Manager, “There’s just not a more tangible result than that.”

“This partnership is a tremendous opportunity for Habitat for Humanity. The kind of awareness about Habitat’s affordable housing program that Illini Radio Group can spread through their listener base is the greatest gift. We are constantly trying to dispel the myth that Habitat homes are given away, every Habitat home is purchased at a zero-interest mortgage and paid over 20 years. In addition, the Raise the Roof campaign will increase public awareness of the effects of poverty in Champaign County. We commend both Illini Radio Group and Thrivent Builds Homes for recognizing the urgency of our efforts and jumping on board with such great enthusiasm.”

Allen Family

One of the two families that are slated to purchase the homes has already been selected.  Zina Allen, a single mother of two cares for her teenage daughter in their two-bedroom apartment.  As needed, Ms. Allen looks after her other daughter who suffers from MS and her twin grandchildren.  By the end of summer, the twins will have room to play and Ms. Allen will have a home of her own. 

Over the course of 15 week build period, Ms. Allen will put 250 hours of sweat equity into her home.  Zina is very excited about getting on the build site. Participating in building their home, they develop an investment they wouldn’t otherwise have and learn building and repair skills to maintain their home after they’ve moved in.

Dominguez Family

Serafin and Maria Dominguez moved to Champaign seventeen years ago. Originally from Michoacan, Mexico, Serafin first went to Chicago, staying with brothers. He moved to Champaign, joined by Maria and babies Claudia and Christian, because of the greater opportunity for success. Having worked in agriculture, Serafin is now a cook at the University of Illinois. Maria works on the production line at Plastipak. Claudia attends Parkland College while Christian is at Urbana Adult Education Center. Brenda, born in Champaign, attends a local grade school.

When asked what buying a home in partnership with Thrivent Builds Homes and the Illini Radio Group meant to them, Serafin could not say thank you enough times. “I’m very grateful for strangers helping us, their kind hearts. If the tables were turned, I would do the same.” In fact, almost all of the Dominguezes have already begun that work. With 500 hours of sweat equity to complete by the end of their build, both parents have already helped at the ReStore, an investment in families beyond their own.

Although the family now owns the trailer they live in, its condition has significantly deteriorated. Owning your own home is, “every family’s dream…we will feel freer and more secure.” Serafin joked that every young couple hopes to create a permanent home – it just ook them a little longer.

Groundbreaking on a beautiful Saturday, May 19, 2007

Dear friends and family:

Thank you for joining the Dominguez and Allen families, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, the Illini Radio Group, area Lutheran congregations and Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County last Saturday. To break ground on two homes with such joy and genuine fellowship is a rare gem and one we treasure.

Thank you to Sen. Frerichs and Council Member Jackson for reminding us of the personal and political stakes in home ownership for people living in poverty.

Thank you to Chris Scheffler of Thrivent Builds Homes for making Champaign such a priority in her constant tour of Illinois partnerships.

Thank you to Mary-Lynn Foster for her heart-felt work behind the scenes and behind the icrophone to raise awareness about poverty housing.

Thank you to Richard Craig for sharing his connection to and passion for our new homes.

Thank you to Pastor Terry Strom, a native of Champaign County but new leader in our Lutheran community, for reminding us of our guiding light.

Thank you to Norm Fisher, Julia Schmidt and Joan Wingo for rallying volunteers and funds, providing beautiful photographs and a delightful connection to so many hard workers.

Thank you to home owners Karen Hite (1999, First Presbyterian Church), LaVonda Dorsey (1998, Habitat move and rehab), Sandra Holloway (2004, Bike & Hike), Waddah Sweid (2007, Student Chapter) and Maricela Corona (2008, Women Build Homes) for welcoming your fellow home owners into the circle.

Thank you to Zina Allen, Shayla Reddick, Serafin, Maria, Claudia, Christian and Brenda Dominguez for letting us into their lives so intimately, allowing their hopes to help us grow.

With 63 of us attending, I’ve undoubtedly forgotten someone and I apologize. I hope to see you all over the course of this build and again at the dedication on September 15.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Family Selection and Family Support Committees, and the staff at Habitat: THANK YOU!

Eileen Gebbie

Executive Director

Mary-Lynn's speech & Audio from the groundbreaking here.

In March, The stations of the Illini Radio Group: WIXY 100.3, MIX 94.5, 92-5 THE CHIEF and EXTRA 99.1 hosted radio-thon to raise money for these homes. Our campaign was called “Raise The Roof” and it was a special day.

With help from Eileen Gebbie, Megan Wolf and Ellen Wilcox, Champaign Telephone Company and Busy Bank…all 4 stations were able to use our airwaves to educate our listeners about this wonderful organization, Habitat For Humanity.

Our listeners heard from Habitat Partners: Representatives from Thrivent, the IBEW, City Council members, our Mayor’s, Volunteers and even the Director of Habitat International, Clive Rainey.

Our listeners heard from Habitat Homeowners as they expressed their appreciation for this organization. They heard how Bernita Harris attended workshops to prepare for homeownership, and how those workshops made the process less intimadating.

We learned that Karen Hite loved the process of helping to build her home…and how she loves that her kids can experience the comfort of being safe and stable

Zina Allen told us how excited she was when she got the call that she was getting a home. She’s so excited, but told us she really won’t be able to believe it until groundbreaking….It’s time to believe Zina!

Our listeners learned how Habitat For Humanity helps good, hard-working people achieve their dream of home ownership. And they responded with online donations, donations by phone, and with cash donations. Our listeners responded by offering in-kind donations, and many have now inquired about becoming volunteers. We’ve even had listeners contact Habitat For Humanity to apply for a home.

Our Vice President and General Manager of the Illini Radio Group, Alan Beck, talks about our involvement in a Habitat For Humanity press release. He says

When approached about sponsoring the homes we jumped at the chance. “It gives our staff and our listeners something tangible that they helped build. It is important for people to know what they are giving to and whom it helps. Habitat home building projects have a clear outcome. We will be helping two families get out of poverty housing and start a new life with a bright future,” There’s just not a more tangible result than that.”

Who can’t get behind an organization that lends a helping hand to families, who in turn give back to our community? Who can’t get behind an organization where local business people lend their talents to ensure more homes are built? Who can’t get behind an organization where the staff is incredibly dedicated and exceptionally organized?

This is the “feel good” stuff! The good things in life...for good people, and by good people.

On behalf of the Illini Radio Group and our listeners, congratulations to the the Allen and Dominquez families on this ground-breaking day.

We look forward to continuing our relationship with Habitat For Humanity and we are honored to be “buried” today.

Week 1: JUNE 2, 2007

Done! See photos here.

Thank you to volunteers Dave "Iceman" Bagger, Mike Beadle, Susan Brant, Donna Courtright, Ron Courtright, Bob Coverdill, Drew Coverdill, Larry Curtis, Beth Dodd, Noah Dodd, Henry Gerlach, Kathy Harvey, Donald Hoffmeister, David Keith, George Kieffer, Paul Loschak, Vetisha McClair, John Nimz, Bennett Parkhurst, Pete Sauer, Sylvia Sauer, Chris Schmidt, Susan Sheppelman, Eric "The Sheu" Sheu, David Smith, Sandy Strom, Kurt "Oddjob" Erbach, Mike McMillen, Kristen Strom, Marc Porter and Skip Sams.

Week 2: JUNE 9, 2007

Done! See photos here.

Another Saturday, another amazing group of volunteers. Member of Grace Lutheran and St. Paul Lutheran of Gifford (both of whom are fundraisers on this project, too), leaders from Champaign County at large and the University of Illinois student chapter of Habitat all worked together.

Our volunteers ranged in age from 16 to 70, from experienced volunteers to novices, different beliefs, different races, different ethnicities. How wonderful that we were all united in our desire to learn, to make something good happen, to work hard and enjoy chocolate chip cookies.

One new volunteer thanked the staff many times over for "allowing" him to volunteer. He confided that he had not really believed that there were people in the world who were willing to give up their free time to do something for someone else. One young woman was very frustrated that she could not hammer in a nail straight and more experienced volunteer came over and helped her learn how she could do this – later – she was heard on the phone – so excited, talking to her dad and telling him how she had nailed up a wall.

When the day began, we were a group of individuals – some of us friends, staring at two concrete slabs, by days end we were a team that had raised walls on both homes completed and the interior framing on one.

Our thanks go out to: Dave "Iceman" Bagger, Mark Billings, Brian Bole, Paul Buenting, Ken Bunting, Terry Dalton, Nick Duden, Ron Duden, Kurt "Oddjob" Erbach, John Enkes, Norma Enkes, Kim French, Henry Gerlach, Tim Gilles, Greg Goebel, Eldon Hesterberg, Bill Hoveln, Mary Jean Hoveln, J.C. Reitmeier, George "GK" Kieffer, Stacey LaFeber, Paul Loschak, Andrew Lovdahl, Brian Lovdahl, Jonathon Makela, Julia Makela, Marc Porter, Herman Riddick, Jerry Roosevelt, Rosalyn Roosevelt, Gene Severins, Eric "What A" Sheu, Chuck Siems and Alicia Tosdal. You all made a difference in the lives of two families and your community.

Week 3: JUNE 16, 2007

Done! See photos here.

Come and see what you and other volunteers have done on 507 and 509 E. Bradley Avenue in Champaign. Good things come from all ages, all races, religions – from a bare spot on the ground two homes are rising!

We had a lot of help Saturday the 16th, working on the roofs and interior walls. Thank you to Dave Bagger for his labor and his kindness – he brings a cooler of ice and ice water to the site every Saturday. A special thank you to Sam Park and his crane – he spent the whole morning at the site and "raised our roof".

Thank you to Liz Abraham, Nilsa Alemanas, Jim Anderson, Brain Bole, Jan Brooks, Chris and John Chatfield, Rachel Cherry, Ron Cler, Ronda and Richard Craig, Stephanie Davidson, Jo Erickson, Henry Gerlach, Time Gilles, Briana Hatfield, Bob Hein, Brian Hudson, George Kieffer, Paul Loschak, Elder Dave Milner, Bennett Parkhurst, Marc Porter, Herman Riddick, Grace Schoedel, Eric Sheu, Lisa, Stahl, Arlene Torres, Charles and Claire Walworth, Aran and Suran Woo, and Elder Andrew York for their tireless labor in the very hot sun along side of our families – Zina Allen, Maria and Serafin Dominguez.

Highlights of the day for me included watching Serafin helping Maria learn how to use a saw to build their own home. Herman Riddick tirelessly attached every roof truss to the crane.

Thank you to Norm Fisher and his wonderful photographs. Norm along with Julia Schmidt and Joan Wingo are responsible for all of the in church publicity and recruitment. Thank you to all the area Lutheran Churches for their support and their volunteers, to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and the stations of the Illini Radio Group for their sponsorship.

One correction from last week – our most mature volunteer on site was 76 – not 70 as previously reported. Thank you, George!

Week 4: JUNE 23, 2007

Done! See photos here.

Let's hear a big slip-sliding HOORAY for our Habitat build volunteers from Saturday the 23rd!

Obviously neither rain, nor heat, nor deepest mud keeps Habitat volunteers from their appointed tasks - because we had all of those things on Saturday. Even with all that mother nature threw at us, we worked all day. We gathered under gray, rainy skies and promptly began to sheet the roofs. While trudging through mud puddles we put up the porch trusses and hammered up blue board. After a delicious lunch provided by the Whirlwind group, under rain and then blazing heat, we installed all of the doors and windows on both homes.

Thanks you Beth Beck, Jordan Beck, Charles Blatti, Brian Bole, Chris Chatfield, John Chatfield, Bob Coverdill, Stephanie Davidson, Kurt Erbach, Kim French, Greg Goebel, Elder John, Board member George Kieffer, Paul Loschak, Brain Lovdahl, Andrew Lovdahl, Ryan Meiergerd, Ben Nugent, Paul Onderisin, Herman Riddick, Board member Alejandra Seufferheld, Gabriela Seufferheld, Alicia Tosdal, Elder Voss and Steve Walker.

Thank you, too, to Wayne Wendland and the generous Whirlwind Project group for our snack and lunch and Dave Bagger for our coolers of ice and water. We are now at a whopping 959 volunteer hours towards making this dream come true for our two families.

Thanks also to Norm Fisher and his magic camera – check out his photos here. Norm along with Julia Schmidt and Joan Wingo have worked tirelessly to inform and recruit volunteers from the Lutheran Churches. Thank you to our sponsors, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Illini Radio Group.

And a long overdue thank you to the neighbors on Bradley Avenue. Thank you for making us all welcome.

Week 5: JUNE 30, 2007

"Hammering for Habitat is music for God"

Build blessings of the week include...

Twin City Cobras Motorcycle and Social Club (source of our title quote)
Our Church Families
Our Volunteers: 1210 hours!
Dry ground, amazing weather
Enclosed houses
Clean organized trailers

Each build day has its special gifts. This Saturday, I was overwhelmed by the warmth and friendship offered by the Twin City Cobras – our neighbors at 505 E. Bradley.

Several of the Cobras have volunteered for other Habitat chapters. This group has been very friendly and helpful – even hanging a hose over their fence on Saturdays for our use on the build site. The Cobras are very happy that Habitat is building next to them despite the noise and parked cars. They made comments about how wonderful it was that Habitat has come to the neighborhood because they know we bring them good families.

Two of our volunteers, Joetta Morgan and Connie Minnes, took pity on our poor, disorganized, mud-filled trailers and cleaned and reorganized them both. Then they both cut down most of the weeds and overgrowth on the lots. Connie showed our future home owners, Zina and Maria, what beautiful plants were already growing on their lots.

At the end of the day, we had two enclosed houses with roofs. 1210 volunteer hours and we are ready to put siding on the house and have the electricians (IBEW Local 601) coming in to install the wiring this weekend.

Working along side of our home owners to be, Zina Allen and the Dominguez family, were Jordan Beck, Katie Brown, Ken Bunting, Stephanie Davidson, Phil Gable, Henry Gerlach, Sara Gibbs (incoming Student Chapter President), Tim Gilles, Greg Goebel, Stewart Graham, Jeff Green, George Kieffer, Richard King, Vern Magnuson, Prashant Mehta, Ryan Meiergerd, Elder Milner, Connie and Mason Minnes, Joetta Morgan, James and Jill Quisenberry, Herman Riddick, Eric Sheu ( 2006 – 2007 Student Chapter President), Mauricio Vieira, Steve Walker, John Warriner and Elder York. These vigorous volunteers represented St. Matthew Lutheran, Grace Lutheran, St. Paul Lutheran of Gifford, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Trinity Lutheran and our amazing community at large!

Providing a wonderful barbecue for us was Erick Kotewa and a group from Quest United Methodist Church. Thank you to Ana Vieira for her wonderful cakes.

We could not do this without you!

Week 6: JULY 7, 2007: IBEW Local 601 - You Light Us Up!
Thank you to IBEW Local 601members Chuck Leman, Larry Barber, Dan Holskin, Mike Siems, Mike Herbert, Rick Martin, Josh Pellum, Patty Udical, Mike Melvin and Gus Batista for coming out on Saturday the 7th to wire both homes.

A huge round of applause for Rose Heating and Air and RC Plumbing for working during their business week (in the heat) and making huge strides in preparing our homes for our families!

Expertly applying siding, alongside our families, was Daniel Beaudoin, Sandy Burt, Barry Conrad, Mary Ellen Dorner, John Garlisch, Henry Gerlach, Robert Hesterberg, Maribeth Holhubner, Fred Holhubner, Kathy Hughes, George Kieffer, Vern Magnuson, Ray Parks, Herman Reddick, Gabriela Seufferheld, Kristen Strom, Pastor Strom, Gabe Strom, Sandy Strom, Steve Walker, and David Willcox. The Allen Family home is now a lovely cream color and the Dominguez Family home is a soft blue-gray.

Providing an amazing lunch was Nilsa Almenas, Jan Brooks, Michele Brown, Cathy Digges, Jo Erickson, Clarice Henry, Chris Holhubner, Jennifer Holhubner, Beverly Kieffer, Diana Masher, Lisa Stahl, Peggy Walterhausen and Claire Walworth. Thank you to Celia Elliott for the Gatorade!

Neighbor of the week: Bino! He came by the site to talk of his love for Habitat.

Recipe of the week: cinnamon rolls! Let me know if you want a copy.

Soon we will finish the siding, work on the crawl space vapor barrier and maybe some big surprises! Do you want to join us?

Week 7: JULY 14, 2007: 1785 volunteer hours and counting
What did we do on Saturday the 14th?
WE ROOFED! WE SIDED!
We were amazing.

Habitat, the Dominguez and the Allen families are very fortunate each week to have skilled volunteers who enjoy passing on their knowledge to inexperienced volunteers. Volunteers who did not feel at all confident of their skills in June are now teaching new volunteers. This is my first build site. Construction Manager Paul Zindars tells me that the volunteers are always this giving and caring – can that really be true?

You and your willingness to be giving of your time and talent is the key to any success we may have.

Thank you F & R Roofing, Van Bowersox, Katie Brown, Bob Coverdill, Larry Curtis, Kurt Erbach, Kim French, Henry Gerlach, Tim Gilles, Greg Goebel, Jeff Green, Donald Hoffmeister, Elder John, George Kieffer, Desiree and John Lavin, Richard Lehman, Michael, McMillen, Ray Parks, Herman Reddick, Mark Ried, Alejandra Seufferheld, Eric Sheu, Lawrence Smith, David Smith, Rachel Vellenga, Elder Voss, David Willcox, Robert Wilson for working along side of our families.

Lunch is a highlight of every build day. Fried chicken, watermelon, pasta salad, chips and desert were provided by Susan Bekiares, Hunter Olson, McKayla Olson, Velma Olson, and Randa Plotner. Celia Elliott provided Gatorade.

Come on over and feel the love!

Week 8: JULY 21, 2007: 2017 sweaty volunteer hours on our homes and counting
Thank you Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and the St. Andrews Student Group - they worked tirelessly on siding and fire caulking. I never knew that siding the house gables takes many, many precision cuts and can be done in different patterns.

One volunteer from Prince of Peace worked on cleaning up the build site, she picked up debris, she raked, she swept - now, ours is the only build site in town where it is safe to eat off of the ground! We have amazing volunteers.

A big thank you to the New Canaan Baptist Church Drug Rehabilitation Program for the snacks they donated to our volunteers. How wonderful it is that we are so welcomed in the area community. After this next Saturday, the outsides of the homes will be completed. In the next weeks, we will be putting up walls, painting and landscaping.

It is fun to watch Maria Dominguez and Zina Allen take pride in their homes. They will always know which boards they nailed, the supports they held, which siding they cut, placed and nailed and which of the windows they helped place and caulk.

What a great job was done by Dave Bagger, Jack Baldwin, Van Bowersox, Eric Brucker, John Chatfield, Chris Chatfield, William Donkervoet, Annette Duitsman, Henry Gerlach, Tim Gilles, Greg Goebel, Cristian Geodicke, Cindy Goetting , Todd Goetting, Matt Harring, Kevin Huckshold, Emma Israel, Karen Jersild, George Kieffer, Vern Magnuson, Shelby Marsolf, Mitch Marsolf, Helen Miller, Ray Parks, Dylan Pomes, Marc Porter, Herman Reddick, Gerald Sappenfeld and Jim Taeger - thank you all!

Week 9: JULY 28, 2007: Paul Bunyan Day

Saturday the 28th was a day where we did “a little bit of this and a little bit of that”. Volunteers finished up the odds and ends that needed to be done before the dry-wallers came to work during the week.

Do any of you who have been on site remember the huge back yard jungle that both homes had? The last 30 plus feet at the back of the lots was just a complete overgrown, tree filled, trash filled mess. Herman Reddick presided over a wood chipper and volunteers dragged brush, cut down small trees and worked for hours. Most of the debris has now been reduced to a huge mountain of wood chips.

Zina Allen and Maria and Claudia Dominguez worked tirelessly and were so excited as the size of their yard became clear. Our volunteers discovered a bike, metal bars and a back fence that no one had ever seen.

Thank you to Christina and Jon Bell, John Chatfield, Tom Chen, Rachel Cherry, Ron and Donna Courtright, Jeff Green, Brian Hudson, Andrew and Brian Lovdahl, Kathie and Tim McMaster, Elder Dave Milner, Eric Sheu, Caroline Sholem, and Elder Kip Wardell.

A very special thanks to Beverly and George Kieffer. Our scheduled lunch volunteers had a last minute conflict and they stepped up to feed our volunteers.

2,167 volunteer hours have been invested by YOU in our homes. Fantastic!

Week 10: AUGUST 4, 2007: Edging Towards the Finish Line
Our running total of 2269 volunteer hours is putting us closer every week to completion and the September 15 dedication of our two Thrivent Builds Homes/Illini Radio Group houses. On site last week, to check out what is happening with Habitat, was a member of the Bell family, the first home owners for this affiliate.

Thank you to Herman Reddick, Vern Magnuson, Paul Speers, Eric Sheu, Charles Blatti, Kim French, Michelle Voss and Laura Eisenmonger for working on the porches and railings along with our future home owners. Thank you to Wayne and Betty Wendland and their friends from Whirlwind who prepared lunch.

Next week we will be painting the insides of the homes and trying to stay cool!

Week 11: AUGUST 11, 2007

On Saturday the 11th we painted. Both homes now have two semi-expertly applied coats. We had a lot of families on site:

+ Jessica Dickson and her mom, Jan Brooks.
+ Habitat Board President Bill Tredway and his wife Kathy came over after attending the ground breaking Amber Overcast's home.
+ Brothers Wayne and Byron Bekiares helped paint while their wives, sisters Christine and Susan, prepared our delicious lunch. Wayne and Byron worked very well together - each was all too happy to point out to the other when they missed a spot or had dripped. I did have to separate them when they began a duel with the paint rollers.

As we get closer to the end of this build, I have started thinking about all of the wonderful people I have met and worked with and how much I am going to miss you all.

Thank you to Nilsa Almenas, Jan Brooks, Jessica Dickson, Byron, Christine, Susan and Wayne Bekiares, Kim French, Karen Hawthorne, Herman Reddick, Beth Veile, Wayne Wendland, Paul Speers, Elder Brimhall, Elder Wardell, Bill and Kathy Tredway, Henry Gerlach, Vern Magnuson, George Kieffer, and Eric Sheu.

Week 12: AUGUST 18, 2007

Welcome Caterpillar employees! You were all so much fun on the Thrivent/Illini Radio Group build site on the 18th.

Do you ever wish you could look in to the future and see our Habitat families years after the dedication, see what affect your love and hard work has had on their lives? One of our volunteers on Saturday was Anitra White (at left, with Zina Allen). She remembers being a little girl in Danville, where her family was the recipient of a Habitat home. Her mom, a single mother of five, was looking for a hand to improve life for her family. She received it from our friends in Danville. The result? Her mom was able to get a better job, the children all have grown up to be able to care for themselves and give back to their communities and Anitra gave her time to help two more families along the same path.

Thank you to volunteers Ethan Andersen, Jan Causey, Kurt Erbach, Gladys Freed, Kim French, Henry Gerlach, Susan Hinrichs, Cyndi Hutchison, George Kieffer, Angela McFarland, Michael McMillen, Elder Dave Milner, Adam Noyes, Herman Reddick, Julia Schmidt, Jay Sheckles, Eric Sheu, Doris Snyder, Paul Speers, Elder Voss, Elder Kip Wardell, Wayne Wendland, Anitra White, and Jerry Zachary.

Volunteers have now donated 2,637 hours.

Week 13: AUGUST 25, 2007

2,753 volunteer hours have been donated by volunteers to create these two homes. Countless other hours have been lovingly donated by our Lutheran Church Champions, Thrivent Coordinators, and community members who have encouraged their coworkers, friends and family members to participate. Thank you all. You have made my job so easy.

Saturday the 25th we saw the return of our fantastic electricians. Thank you to Mike Melvin, Mark Oliverra, J.D. Hubert Sr., Jay Spencer, Bernard Hettinger, and Matt Weakman from IBEW Local 601. Thank you to Teresa Brown, Don and Gail Block, Kim French, Henry Gerlach, George Kieffer, Kathie and Tim McMaster, Elder Dave Milner, Iona Schmidt, Eric Sheu, Megan Smith, Anna and Craig Stefan, and Elder Wardell.

In addition to the final electrics we finished the side porches and painted the doors. The kitchen linoleum is down, light fixtures are up and we are really getting close to handing over the keys and telling two families "Welcome Home."

We will all take Labor Day weekend off. On September 8th we will landscape and finish any projects remaining. We thank Danville Gardens for their donation of our landscaping plants, flowers and mulch.

Please join the Dominguez and Allen Families, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, area Lutheran congregations and listeners of the Illini Radio Group stations on Saturday, September 15 at 2 p.m. for the home dedication (507 and 509 E Bradley).

Week 14: SEPTEMBER 8, 2007

Our intrepid crew worked, yet again, in the rain and the mud on the final build day, Saturday the 8th. The inside crew worked on trim, caulking, cleaning windows, tubs, installing appliances and keeping those of us who were working in the mud outside. I think they may have actually locked the doors to keep us from tracking mud inside.

The "rain crew" planted beautiful flowers, grasses, bushes, cut spindles for the ramp railing and cleaned and organized. Can you believe that two homes are standing just waiting for their families?

Thank you to all those who supported this project, those who volunteered in our Restore, who participated with their churches, who came out to help their community, who prayed for us in their Churches or under the stars. This could not have happened without you.

Thank you to all of the neighbors who smiled and applauded for us through the noise, and the cars parked in front of their homes. Many stopped by to wish us well and some joined us and built.

Dedication: SEPTEMBER 15, 2006

Christine Scheffler of Thrivent Builds Homes hands Zina her new home's Bible. To the right, Maria holds her own bilingual version.	Zina lifts her house key in celebration.
Left to right: Herman Reddick (father of Zina's daughters), Maria and Serafin Dominguez, Board member and Zina's Family Support Liasion Jerry Zachary, Board member and Dominguez Family Support Liasions Pat Hanlon and Liliana Casteneda, ReStore Committee member and volunteer Susan Drozdz, Board member, ReStore and home build volunteer George Kieffer and Executive Director Eileen Gebbie.
Before...
...and after!

Thank you to all of our business donors in addition to Thrivent and the Illini Radio Group:
ABC Sanitary, Ameren IP, Armstrong Cash & Carry Lumber, Cabinetland Ltd., Carpet Advantage, Champaign Telephone Company, City of Champaign, Danville Gardens, DOW Chemical, F&R Roofing, Franzen Construction Inc., HDC Engineering, Home Depot, IBEW Local #601, IDSCO, Illiana Insulation, Kemper Industrial, Kurt B. Crail, Larson, Lone Pine Electric, Lutheran Social Services, Maxwell Counters, Mid-America Sand & Gravel, Tim Meyer, Patton Lumber, Prairie Central Materials, RATIO Architecture & Bill Devine, RC's Plumbing & HVAC, Reynold's Towing, Rogers Seamless Gutter, Rose Heating and Air Conditioning, Sam's Drywall, Sam Park, Square D, Springfield Electric, Stephens Excavating, Storage Options Solutions, Yerkey's Septic, LLC and Whirlpool.