High school building trades students partner with Church Hammers to build Habitat home

By DANIELLE KAPRAL
Special to Harbor Light Newspaper

A house made its way down Mitchell Street in Petoskey on July 9. The home, built by the The Petoskey Building Trades Class, made a journey all the way from the high school to Sadie Lane in Alanson. This home will be the fifth home completed by the Church Hammers, a cooperative group of seven Petoskey and Harbor Springs churches who build homes in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Jill Petro of Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity said the group has been “putting faith in action” since 2005. “One home has been built each year since then,” Petro said.

The Raes-Pesola family (Josh, Kelly, and Mia) was selected as the partner family for this home and has been planning and working with the Church Hammers. Qualified partner families are required to contribute sweat equity hours, attend budgeting classes and pay a modest mortgage. Petro clarifies that “Habitat is a hand up, not a hand out”.

The 1250 sq. ft., one story, three bedroom home was built between Sept. 2008 and June 2009 at Petoskey High School by the building trades class, supervised by their teacher, Larry Liebler. The Church Hammers made the commitment to buy the home in the spring and broke ground in late April. The group also assisted in the finish work, on site at the high school, while the foundation was being completed. To help with utility expenses, the home will be Energy Star certified.

A “ladies siding night” was hosted in mid-May to aid the project. Over 40 women from the community helped to complete the home’s siding.

Liebler said the house came through the move well. He did say that they have one drywall crack that is easily fixable.

The family and Church Hammers group plans to have the home completely finished by August, now that the home is resting on its foundation. “Work bees” are held every Monday night from 6-8 p.m., and are rumored to include excellent food! Please call the Habitat office for directions.

Northwest Michigan Habitat’s mission is to build decent affordable housing in Emmet and Charlevoix Counties. To volunteer, donate, or to inquire further, please call Mary Margaret at the Habitat office at 348-6926, email nwmhabitat@yahoo.com, or visit the website: www.nwmh.net.

(Danielle Kapral is a freelance writer and frequent contributor to the Harbor Light Newspaper)

This is part of the July 15, 2009 online edition of Harbor Light Newspaper.

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