Tag Archives: hope

Thank you Habitat!

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The Brackins Family at their Wall Raising celebration in September.

Each year, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity partners with countless volunteers, donors, and supporters to make the dream of homeownership come true for our partner families.  In 2011, our organization is partnering with the Brackins family on a home to be completed in December.  Below is a note from the family expressing their thankfulness for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, its volunteers, staff, donors, and supporters.  We hope you enjoy reading this note as much as we do!

Dear Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity: I just wanted to say how thankful I am.  My family and I are very thankful for the many coutless blessings that God has provided.  Being chosen out of many for a new home is a dream that has come true!  With that being said I want to thank every volunteer, every staff member, and every supporter of Habitat for Humanity, this couldn’t have been done with all the help and the support. This home has truly opened so many more dreams and opportunities. So I have a lot to be thankful for and that is why I will give our heavenly father thanks and praise for allowing Habitat for Humanity to cross my path; for making the look’s impossible, possible; for a bigger and brighter future, even for just the hands of those who sacrificed their time and who worked hard to make this home possible! So I say unto you again: Thank You! 

Sincerely,

Tonette, Samantha & Anthony Brackins        

Celebrating 20 Years of Building Homes, Hope and Futures

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A home is an amazing thing. It’s a shelter, a refuge, a sanctuary. To the families that Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has helped over the past 20 years, it’s also a dream come true.

It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago we started building simple, decent and affordable homes in partnership with families in Cass and Clay counties. So here’s a little bit about us, where we came from and where we’re heading. 

Raising the Roof

Volunteers work together to raise the roof on a LAHFH Build

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity began in 1991 when Concordia College Pastor Phil Holtan heard former President Jimmy Carter speak about Habitat for Humanity. Inspired by his words, Holtan began a Habitat chapter on Concordia’s campus. Interest in Habitat quickly grew and Holtan decided a local affiliate was needed. On June 1, 1991, Habitat for Humanity International officially accepted Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity as the 609th affiliate in the U.S.

In October 1991, Habitat’s Board of Directors selected the affiliate’s first partner family. Three months later, construction was completed and the first Habitat home in Cass and Clay Counties was dedicated with more than 75 people in attendance.

This past summer, Lake Agassiz Habitat celebrated 20 years of building in Cass and Clay counties. Since its 1991 beginnings, Lake Agassiz Habitat has served 40 families in five communities around the area. 2011’s Barnesville Build will mark the sixth community Habitat has served.

Habitat 20th anniversary ribbon cutting

Habitat Board Members, staff, and volunteers are joined by Chamber Ambassadors and local mayors at the 20th Anniversary ribbon cutting.

For the 2011 build season, the organization received a record 150 requests for applications. Of the 41 applications Habitat received, five families were chosen to receive new homes. We’ll begin work on the last of our 2011 builds on September 10 with the wall raising for the duplex.

So what have we learned these past 20 years? Well, a lot. But one lesson sticks out. What we do transforms lives. We’re building safe, affordable, well constructed homes. Those things are life-changing to these families.

Want to learn more about Lake Agassiz Habitat and how you can get involved? Visit www.lakeagassizhabitat.org.