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CIVC breaks ground on veteran tiny
homes eight and nine in Lincoln
[April 10, 2025]
Though a bit chilly, the weather
was bright and sunny for the Central Illinois Veterans Commission (CIVC)
groundbreaking for tiny homes eight and nine on Tuesday, April 8.
Houses one through five are in Lincoln. Last year, houses six and
seven were built in Atlanta. The two new ones (homes eight and nine)
will be built at 516 Short Tenth Street in Lincoln.
To kick off the ceremony, CIVC
Administrative Director Julie King opened with prayer. King said,
“father, your word tells us unless the Lord builds the house, the
builders labor in vain,” and asked God for his presence in the
project because it is only with his guidance the house will stand
firm. She prayed God would bless the foundations and homes it will
support, the men and women who give so freely of their time, labor
and expertise and the veteran who will make the house a home.
After everyone recited the Pledge
of Allegiance, CIVC Chairman Kasey Cook said a few words about the
newest project. Cook said they are currently interviewing veterans
to be the next recipients of the tiny homes. They hope to have a
final decision soon so the veterans can assist with the project and
have some input on the construction.
Cook then expressed thanks to
several people: Mike and Heidi Fulk of the Patriot Riders for
placing the flags and to all the building crew in attendance. She
then thanked John White and his family for the generous donation of
the lot, which has been in White’s family for decades. The White
family is a true blessing to the organization and veterans who will
have homes there by the end of the summer.
Though White was unable to be there, Cook and CIVC board member
Annie Coers met with him earlier in the evening and personally
thanked him.
Lastly, Cook said the board wanted
to express gratitude to Marsha Fernandez for filling the role of
CIVC Board Chairman for a year after the unexpected death of CIVC
founder Joe Schaler. Fernandez worked tirelessly to ensure Joe’s
vision for providing stable housing and support services to veterans
continues. Cook closed by thanking Fernandez for her dedication to
this community and the veterans who live here and for her leadership
of the board.
Doing the groundbreaking were Cook,
Coers and Fernandez. After some work, the soil finally gave way, and
the ground was broken for the next two tiny homes.
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Fernandez said the CIVC held an
appreciation dinner last month for people who work at these sites
day in and day out even in the rain. Two men who were unable to be
at the dinner are among those who have committed a lot of time an
effort to the cause.
After asking David Harris and Gene
Hickey to join her up front, Ferandez gave each of them plaques for
their work with CIVC. She said the organization appreciates all
their hard work.
Besides the building crews, several
CIVC board members and a few city delegates were also on hand for
the ceremony.
The recipients for tiny homes eight and nine will be chosen soon
after interviews are done. Cook said once they have been chosen,
these homes will be built to meet their needs.
A table held 2 by 4 boards that
people could signed with names or encouraging messages. CIVC board
member Ronda O’Donoghue also dropped 2 by 4s off at some of the area
schools earlier in the day for local students to sign.
As with the other tiny home
projects the CIVC has completed so far, these 2x4s with names and
messages are going to be used in the construction of the tiny homes.
[Angela Reiners]
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