Habitat For Humanity Blesses New Warsaw Home
By Briley Gargis
InkFreeNews
WARSAW – Habitat for Humanity hosted a blessing for a recently built home for Jamie and Rob Nichter.
On Sunday, June 28, the blessing ceremony was held for the family. This was also the very first chance for the family to see the home in its completed state. At the blessing, volunteers and supporters gathered at the new home at 203 E. Leedy St., Warsaw, for the ceremony with family and friends who helped along the way.
Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity Mickey Kaufman began the blessing by welcoming everyone and getting those in attendance up to speed on the process.
Tim Sprankle, pastor of the Leesburg Grace Church, blessed the new home for the family, wishing them a happy and safe life in the new home. Afterwards, Jamie and Rob and family gathered to give thanks and accept the keys to their home.
“We are very thankful for everyone involved and feel so blessed to have this opportunity,” Jamie said.
The family needed a new place to call home and first applied two years ago with Habitat.
After being accepted and the construction began, the family had the opportunity to meet all of the volunteers and people who helped realize this dream of owning a home.
Jamie said that “these people hadn’t just become friends, but they had become family as well.”
Starting last September, Habitat for Humanity and a large group of volunteers began construction of the home for the Nichters, who had been living in a mobile home with their three children. The mobile home they lived in for nine years was deteriorating and beyond repair.
Construction was halted during the COVID-19 shutdown, but “while volunteers weren’t on-site, our staff kept working on it,” Kaufman said. Before the pandemic, Kaufman said a group from Grace College worked on it and about 100 other volunteers helped in the process.
This is the seventh house for Habitat for Humanity and officials hope to have more done in the future.
“It is important for everyone to be involved with their neighbors,” Kaufman said. “Thirteen percent of our population lives in substandard housing. The way Kosciusko County is, we should absolutely help those who need it.”
Habitat is a not-for-profit, and the organization relies on donations and the help of volunteers to get the work done.
“Something like this helps kids’ stability and education, along with helping people get better jobs. It is just such a good foundational place for a family,” Kaufman added.
Visit Habitat for Humanity’s website for more information, and for donations, visit their donations page.