Groundbreaking

Several board members and volunteers were present Monday afternoon as Greater Fairfield Habitat for Humanity President Jody Loin opened the groundbreaking ceremony for the newest Habitat house at 912 N. Ninth St. The Rev. Joe Phipps, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, quoted from Psalm 127:1, ?Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain,? then offered a prayer for the project. Homeowner Michelle Kindle, second from right, wields one of the spades as she holds daughter Samantha. Kindle?s parents, Janice and Randy Farrington each hold a spade with Kindle?s son Brody helping his grandma break ground as his sister Adrianna, watchs. Friend Darrin Lyons is at right with another spade. When asked if she wanted to speak, an emotional Kindle could only quietly say a heartfelt ?Thank you.? Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing organization that builds simple, decent, affordable housing in partnership with people in need. Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, Kindle and family members will invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (sweat equity) into the building of her three bedroom Habitat house and the houses of others. The heavy equipment moved in Tuesday to begin dirt work, with the goal of an Oct. 15 completion date.

For this photo, see the Wednesday, May 5, 2010, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.