Rain and winds couldn’t keep supporters away from yesterday’s ground breaking ceremony of the Knox County Habitat for Humanity’s 50th home.
Habitat Executive Director Jordan Knight led the ceremony in Ecklund Court. Knight told WGIL he had football coaches who would start off tough, rainy practices by saying “we’re going to separate the players from the pretenders.”
“We’re not surrounded by pretenders here,” he said. “We bring the real players out. Our regular workdays show that. This family went through a rigorous application process, so I don’t want to take away from all those volunteers that have been building this house outside of the job site. There have been many hours, many people doing those things.”
Regina Wenstrom and her three children, ages eight, 10 and 12, will live in the home once construction is complete.
Wenstrom said her family is looking forward to the move.
“We’re just very excited to have our own home,” she said, “and not have to worry about moving over and over.”
Under Habitat guidelines, Wenstrom will pay a zero interest mortgage on the house. Those mortgage payments will be invested in the next build.
Knight says he is looking for volunteers to make sure the home is finished in time for Thanksgiving.
