HABITAT CHESANING BUILD 2007!

SAGINAW HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Volunteer receives Chesaning's first Habitat House

Saturday, June 30, 2007
MARY L. LAWRENCE
THE SAGINAW NEWS

Kim S. Suggs recruited volunteers for more than a year to help raise money to pay for the first Habitat for Humanity home in Chesaning.

It was one of her duties as a worship leader at New Wine Full Gospel Church in Chesaning.

"When we were doing all those fundraisers with our church, we had no idea we would get the house," said Suggs, 38, of New Lothrop. "We were participating in the fundraising to help someone else."

Suggs, her husband, Grady E. Jr., 44; and their five children -- Amber R., 15; Krystle L., 14; Grady E. III, 13; Tiffany L., 11; and Justin M., 9 -- soon will call a four-bedroom house at 900 Liberty their home.

It's close enough to Chesaning's Big Rock Elementary School that her youngest son can walk to class. The family lived in Chesaning before moving to the house they rent. Ground breaking for the new home was to take place at 9 a.m. today.

Kim Suggs works in the kitchen at Chesaning Middle School. Her husband works in Reese for Greenia Custom Woodworking, which makes moldings, cabinets and doors.

The family has suffered financial hardship, including a bankruptcy and mounting medical bills. Plus, Grady Suggs is facing employment woes because of a slowdown in the construction industry.

A fellow parishioner suggested they apply for a Habitat house.

"It was a surprise and a blessing when they announced we would get the house," Kim Suggs said. "We're
getting back on our feet again. Things are going great. It will be nice to have our own house again and not rent. The kids are excited about having their own bedrooms."

The family will pay for the home with a no-interest mortgage that Habitat backs.

Members worked on a home in the recent Habitat blitz in Saginaw to build "sweat equity" -- a requirement to receive the housing assistance.

"They build them fast," she said. "That was a crazy experience. They have the walls and floors in place in a day and a half. It's amazing."

As Saginaw Habitat marks 20 years of home building, the Suggs' home is the first in a southern Saginaw County community. Habitat is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry with a goal of eliminating poor housing and homelessness.

Saginaw Habitat has built or renovated 143 houses since it started in 1987.

"Sometimes land is donated or partly donated, but Habitat purchased the Chesaning property," said Cameron Brady, development manager for the housing ministry. "Our goal is to build where families choose to live. We need locations with certain amenities nearby."

Chesaning churches, businesses and organizations worked together to raise the minimum $30,000 to build the home.

"We serve all of Saginaw County," Brady said. "In the past, we've built homes in Carrollton, Buena Vista, Saginaw and Bridgeport Township. Due to the need, we concentrated our efforts here in the city, but there is rural poverty as well. We hope this will dispel the myth that we only build in the city."

Brady said the Chesaning effort means volunteers and workers will travel a little farther to get to the south side of the county."

It's a new challenge," he said. "Volunteers are coming from all over the county for this build. There is a very strong volunteer base from Chesaning businesses as well as the faith community."

Church support includes Trinity United Methodist Church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, New Wine Full Gospel Church, Racy Free Methodist Church, United Methodist Women of Brant and St. Michael Catholic Church. An additional 21 businesses and individuals made donations to sponsor the project.

Like the previous homes Habitat built, the bulk of the construction will take place during a two-week period, beginning with a wall-raising at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 10.

Habitat still needs skilled and unskilled volunteers and coordinators. To volunteer, call the Saginaw Habitat for Humanity office at 753-5200 or visit the Web site www.saginawhfh.org for information. v

Mary L. Lawrence is a features writer for The Saginaw News. You may reach her at 776-9676.

© 2007 Saginaw News
© 2007 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved

743 PHOTOS

Chesaning

June 30 - Groundbreaking

July 09- Excavation

Basement Walls 7/12,14,15

Plumbing 07/16

Basement Floor 07/19

Backfill 07/25

Added 8/16

More Groundbreaking 07/04

07/26 thru 08/08

08/07 thru 12

08/10 part 1 of 2

08/10 part 2 of 2

08/11 thru 13

add'l 08/11

08/12

08/14

08/15

08/16

08/17-18

08/10-13

08/17-19

08/20

08/20-21

08/21

08/21

08/22

08/22-23

08/23

08/24