HABITAT HOUSE -- Rev. Dave Karolus conducted the dedication service for the new Langlade County Habitat for Humanity home Thursday afternoon for the new residents, Rick and Tammy Blaise and their children. The home, the largest of five built by the Langlade County organization, is located at 216 Lincoln St. |
Habitat for Humanity home dedicated in Antigo Thursday in stirring service Oct. 30, 2009 There was quite a crowd on hand for the dedication of the new Habitat for Humanity home at 216 Lincoln St. Thursday afternoon.
Rev. Dave Karolus from Peace Lutheran Church, conducted a candle ceremony for the dedication program that drew members of the Habitat board, men and women who have worked on the project, representatives of the major contributor for the home, Thrivent Builds, friends of Habitat for Humanity and Sen. Jim Hoperin.
And, of course, there was Rick and Tammy Blaise and their family, who will be filling the structure for years to come.
She Bahar, president of the Habitat organization in Langlade County, explained that this was the largest, and perhaps most complete home that the organization has built dating back to its inception here in 1998.
Bahar saluted the Blaise family for their “countless hours” of work on the home and said they are “the perfect family to have it.” She also introduced the leaders of the big project including Duff Leaver, the project coordinator, Norm Dickman, the master builder, Gary Whitman, the building committee chairman, Barb McIlquham, volunteer coordinator, Mary Burt, who handles public relations, Gary Kieper, the Thrivent Builds chapter specialist who also comes to the project with considerable building experience and Sue Tews, who deals in family support.
Rick Blaise told the dedication crowd that he and his big family were very pleased to be in the new home, and explained that they had prayed they be selected by the Habitat board to participate in the project.
“God worked with us,” he added.
During the dedication Karolus guided the family to light candles as he worked through the program and prayers.
Holperin told the gathering that he was impressed how Thrivent Builds and others in the community had worked to construct and fill the home, noting the “selflessness” that had gone into the project.
When the program ended tours of the home were conducted, cake and punch served and best wishes for the success exchanged, it was time for the Blaise family to make the newly dedicated building their home.
|
|
|
