There is nothing like celebrating the holidays at home with family and friends. The fireplace is aglow, the red stockings are hung, the poinsettias are on display. Melodic carols are sung, and the smell of fresh-baked cookies wafts through the air.
But for families like the Santiagos, being home for the holidays has meant spending time in substandard, overcrowded conditions. Currently, the family of four lives in a one bedroom, bug-infested apartment, so small that these hard-working parents sleep on their living room floor.
This Saturday, December 19th, at 3 PM, Austin Habitat dedicated six new homes in the Devonshire neighborhood in time for the holidays. One of these homes went to Lorenzo and Hilaria Santiago. The others went to the deserving families of Jade Sorrell, Christopher Estrada, Jessica Guerrero, Maria Reyes, and Samir and Hedieh Berenji. The families were ecstatic to be receiving the gift of home.
The homes were sponsored by University Federal Credit Union; Habitat Young Professionals and TruWest Credit Union; Wells Fargo; CISCO, TEK Systems and Dell; State Farm and KVUE; and area churches. Hundreds of corporate employees and church members worked side by side with future Austin Habitat homeowners in order to complete construction.
For the ceremony, the Towbridge Circle cul-de-sac was blocked off, and a stage, chairs, and refreshment station were set up. Christmas decorations included wreaths, bows, garland, and even a Christmas tree! Directly behind the stage stood all of the site signs from the six homes being dedicated. Behind them was the Exit Realty home which volunteers had just raised the walls on that day. Looking around the cul-de-sac, Habitat homes in all stages of construction could be seen.
The ceremony appropriately began with live Christmas music as the families proceeded down the aisle to the front of the stage. The invocation was given by Rev. Dr. Carol Friesen, pastor of Westlake Presbyterian, which next year, will become our first single-church house sponsor!! Next, President Michael Willard recognized all of our sponsors with personalized plaques. Ben Bishop, construction director, followed him by a moving speech recognizing all of the volunteer crews whose labor made these homes possible. Then, Melissa Orren, family services manager, introduced all of families, who each said a few words of gratitude.
Finally came the closing traditions. First, the Capital Area Food Bank presented gift baskets to the families. The sponsors then handed over Bibles and keys and said a few words to the familes, and the families passed hammers on to the next families who will be building their homes. To conclude the ceremony, each family sawed in half a final 2 X 4.
Afterward, everyone was invited to enjoy cake, and there was even a house shaped cake donated by Sentelli’s Bakery! Then each family went to their new home, where they served food to their family, friends, sponsors, and volunteer crews.
The Dedication was also a celebration of the successful completion of our busiest fall to date. Over the past 4 months, Austin Habitat has collaborated with sponsors and volunteers from across Central Texas to begin construction on 11 new homes. This brings our total house starts for the year to 24, an incredible number in this economy!
Following the Dedication, Austin Habitat staff, site leaders, and regular volunteers retreated to La Palapa for a party celebrating all of this year’s accomplishments!!! Mexican food and karaoke made for a fun-filled night!!
Thank you to all of our families, volunteers, and donors who made this year possible! We look forward to seeing you all in 2010. We still have many families to help escape a life in poverty housing!
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