KentNewsNet.com

Issue date: 3/4/09 Section: News

WATCH a video about Habitat for Humanity's work.

It's more than just sawing wood and painting walls for the families moving into new Habitat for Humanity houses in Portage County.

For Charlie Avery, a single mother with two children, it's not building a house, but making a home.

"You know, it's just overwhelming," Avery said. "I'm going to have a yard for my son to play in and I don't have to worry about where he goes."

Charlie's house is one of four that Habitat is currently working on in Atwater, a small town in the southern part of the county. The houses are set to be done and dedicated sometime this spring.

Habitat president Mary Shaffer said with the current economy, the need for their services may rise.

"We're seeing more need out there," Shaffer said. "And that's part of our goal, to grow from one house to ten houses because we know the need is there."

Portage County's Habitat has built over 50 houses since it began 20 years ago.

They offer the houses at a low price for people who otherwise would have trouble buying them.

But Habitat requires that the families work hard on their own homes.

Charlie said she welcomes the extra work.

"My daughter and her boyfriend actually got to come down here during Christmas break and we did a lot of the painting so that was neat because she got to be part of the house too," she said

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