Local Habitat for Humanity delivers keys to homeowner number 24

 

[April 29, 2019] 

LINCOLN 

On Sunday afternoon a very large crowd gathered to help welcome Sara Harvey into her new Habitat for Humanity home on Sixth Street in Lincoln. Tonita Reifsteck with the Habitat for Humanity of Logan County said that HFH had printed 75 programs for the house blessing event and all were given out before folks stopped arriving.

As guests arrived they were greeted by Sara's daughter Lynzie.

Because the lawn around the house had recently been tilled for grass seeding, the event house blessing event was held inside and it was standing room only as everyone gathered to witness the blessing and the delivery of the house keys to Harvey and her family.

About one year ago, the HFH had hosted the ground breaking ceremony for this, their 24th build in Logan County. The day was cold and very rainy as Sara and her daughters Lynzie and Emma scooped shovels of soil to commemorate the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

The house was then the only building project for the HFH for the coming year. In addition to Habitat volunteers working on this home, there was once again involvement from the Lincoln Community High School’s Lincolnland Technical Education Center Building and Trades class under the instruction of Jack Reichle.

On Sunday afternoon the ceremony was kicked off by HFH president Bill Sahs who welcomed everyone and commented on the large turnout. Sahs also noted that Lincoln Mayor Seth Goodman was on hand and invited the mayor to speak.

Goodman said he wanted to congratulate Harvey on her new home and thank the HFH for the work they are doing in the community. The Litany of Dedication was then led by Pastor Brad Curtis of the First United Methodist Church.

Cince Bowns led the Litany of Community Support.

Then Jack Reichle spoke as one of the co-foreman of the build and the leader of the Building and Trades class. There were several members of the class on hand for the house blessing. Reichle called them all to gather around him as he spoke and introduced each of the students. He noted that this half dozen or more on hand was only a portion of all who had worked on the project.

After Reichle, Sahs led the Litany of Hope.

Then Tonita Reifsteck gave the presentation of the Habitat Children’s book to the Harvey family. Reifsteck said that it was a book that could be read to or by the children. In addition, Reifsteck also presented Harvey with a complete set of the Habitat Children’s books to be donated to Christian Child Care where she is employed.

Leonard Krusemark then delivered the family Bible to Harvey, speaking first about being dedicated to reading the Bible and prayer. Krusemark also spoke to the family about their time of gathering around the table. He urged them to eat family meals together around the table and to share their lives with one another.

He also admonished them that the dinner table should be a time of positivity when each one shared the good in their lives. He urged them to take complaints and problems away from the table so that the family joining together in a meal would be a blessing to each member and to God.

The delivery of the keys was led by Bowns, who said that she had known Harvey for a while and was so pleased to see her achieve this goal. The two shared a big hug as Bowns happily delivered the house keys.

Harvey was then called on to speak. She made a short speech mostly thanking all those who had held her up in the work to be done to earn her home. She made note of some of the labor she had put into her home and chuckled at herself about working on the roof and falling off of the roof.

She thanked everyone for coming and thanked HFH for the opportunities she had been given.

The closing prayer was offered by Pastor Curtis, then everyone was invited to enjoy refreshments offered by the women of the First United Methodist Church.

All were also welcome to take a tour of the home.

Waking through, guests found that Harvey’s youngest daughter Emma was proudly holding court in her new room. She and some of her friends were in the aqua green colored room, and Emma noted that she had chosen the color as one of her favorites. She said she also had good ideas for how she would decorate her room once her furniture was moved in.

Those involved in the build through donations of time, or preparation of food or other help included Adam Cheatham, Second Baptist Church, Cince Bowns, Bob Chamberlain; John, Stacy and Faith Clinton; Kelsie Doolin, Mike and Becky Eimer and family, Khaled Fibri, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, Tom Frost, Patrick Fry, Joe Funk, Warren Grover, Russ and Ruthann Harvey, Sara and Lynzie Harvey, Trish Haynes, Erin Huddleston, Dean Leesman, George March, Ron March, Zach Martin, Lloyd Moore, Spud Newhouse, Tonita Reifsteck, John Renfro, Bill Sahs, Kagiso Schulz, Leandra Tate, Trinity Episcopal Church, David Wilmert and Larry Zumwalt.

Businesses contributing to the build included Ace Hardware, Alexander Lumber, Ameren Illinois, American Environmental, Area Disposal, Baker Tree Service, Big R, Carpet House, Conner Foster Surveying, Contractors Ready Mix, Darrin Coffey Stump Grinding, Eaton Corporation, Elijah Smith, Howard Goodman Excavating, Lincoln IGA, Jason Bradburn Concrete, Johnston Real Estate, city of Lincoln Street and Alley Department, Logan County Housing Authority, Lincoln Christian University, McEntire Appliance, Quick Comfort Heating and Cooling, RP Lumber, RR Drywall, Rainbow Guttering, Sherwin Williams, Tarter Brothers, Attorney Tom Van Hook, Triple S Construction and Walmart.

LTEC Building and Trades students who participated in the build included Cody Brady, Brandon D’Andrea, Brenden Eigenbrod, Seth Evans, Bryson Francis, Dustyn Gaston, Christopher Hackwith, Luke Hinch, Shane Keller, Nolan Kirk, Justin Nguyen, Trevor Radespiel, Jamie Swathwood, Brandon Sweitzer, William Trent, and during the first semester only: Peyton Anderson, Tamirat Belley, Haylee Dunham, Dylan Duvall and Dreyden Pozgai.

The lot for the home was donated to HFHLC as a portion of the estate of the late Bernie Behrends.

Sara Harvey was required to put in a minimum of 250 sweat equity hours in her home and other volunteer opportunities for HFHLCC. She put in almost double that amount.

Harvey will also now have a mortgage with monthly payments to Habitat for Humanity. If Harvey continues her good payment record for a total of five years, the balance of her mortgage may be forgiven.

[Nila Smith]