A groundbreaking ceremony took place Thursday afternoon in Mentone for the Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County home for Tiffany Bach and her family. Shown from left are Jeff Pfeifer, Warsaw Community Church; Ben Logan, Habitat for Humanity executive director; Stephanie Overbey, Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO; Tim and Jackie Croy, who donated the property to Habitat; Tiffany Bach, Harper Bach; Karen Bentley, Tiffany’s mom; Bryelle, Lyric and Brody Bach. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.

By David Slone
Times-Union

MENTONE — Tiffany Bach has a close connection to the land where her Habitat for Humanity home will be built.

It used to be owned by her grandparents and then her sister before Tim and Jackie Croy purchased it.

“My grandma and grandpa bought this property years ago before my mom was even born, and my mom grew up here. We spent about every day here with my grandparents. My sister inherited the house, and Tim ended up with it, who is a family friend, and that’s where we’re at now,” Bach said.

She said for her and her kids to have their own house, “It’s nice because some of the same neighbors are the neighbors I grew up with, so it’s nice that the neighbors who watched me grow up can watch my kids grow up. And it means a lot to me to be able to do that, for them to be able to do that.”

Thursday afternoon, May 22, Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County, along with the Bach family, the Croys, Habitat board members and sponsors had a groundbreaking ceremony for the Franklin Street house in Mentone. It’s next door to Kimber Boyd’s Habitat home, also on land donated by the Croys.

During the ceremony, Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Ben Logan said, “We are so excited to celebrate Tiffany and the Bach family. … We are so excited to start this next project with Tiffany and her family. So grateful for, obviously, their time in the program so far. Tiffany, your hard work —125 sweat equity hours already and keep going, putting that hard work in for your family. Thank you for doing that.”

A lead sponsor is Creighton Brothers, but President Mindy Creighton Truex was unable to attend the ceremony so she sent a statement.

“The Mentone community holds a precious place from the beginning for Creighton Brothers. Today we have farms, families, schools and businesses that keep Mentone a key part of our success. The opportunity to again partner with Habitat for Humanity and be one of the sponsors for this home is such a blessing for us. We wish all the best to everyone involved, especially to the Bach family — all the happiness and pride and the memories they’ll be making here together,” Truex stated.

Logan said he was very grateful for Creighton Brothers’ support, along with Lake City Bank, G & G Hauling & Excavating, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing, Kuert Concrete, Heiman Construction, Warsaw Community Church and Sym Financial. He said sponsors and supporters like them make everything Habitat for Humanity does possible.

Kosciusko County Community Foundation has sponsored four Habitat homes, with the Bach home being number three, and Logan said he was so grateful for their support.

Stephanie Overbey, CEO of the foundation, said, “We are the ones grateful just to see housing needs being met by Habitat for Humanity and all of you that serve on the board and volunteer to paint or spackle or put up siding or all the things. I’m so happy for this family. So welcome to your first day on this lovely patch of — right now it will be dirt and weeds — but I know it’s going to be a beautiful home for you and your beautiful family to grow and thrive here. We’re just humble to be a part of that. I’m very grateful to our donors who make this work possible.”

Jeff Pfeifer, Warsaw Community Church pastor of care ministries, gave the blessing and a prayer.

Logan thanked Tim and Jackie Croy for donating the land for the Boyd and Bach homes.

Bach thanked everyone and said she and her family were really blessed.

After the ceremony, Jackie said, “I’m so happy for Tiffany because she deserves it and her dad deserves it also, and they are good people. I’ve known them for a very long time, most of my life, I think, so they very well deserve it.” She said she’ll now get to see Bach more often when she moves back into the community.

“I actually acquired the three lots from Tiffany’s sister, so I knew that they were probably going to go somewhere, so I knew that if I got them, I had control and this was my whole goal,” Tim said. “I kept saying, ‘Go to Habitat, go to Habitat.’ I said I don’t have any voting power but I can let them know that this was the girl’s grandparents’ home. Her dad served on our fire department for years here in town. It’s awesome to have them back here. This was my whole goal ever since the beginning.”

He said they had the property for six years or so, but it all worked out for the good. “Like I say, the community has been good to us so it’s our turn to start giving back to the community,” he stated.

Logan said the Bach home will be of similar design to the Boyd home, which was dedicated in February. The Bach home will be longer because it’ll have five bedrooms instead of four due to the gender and age differences of the children. Tiffany, her four kids (ages 12, 10, 8 and 5) and her father, who she is caring for, will be living in the house. The home will be ADA compliant for Tiffany’s father Dennis, who is in a wheelchair.

The goal is for G & G Hauling & Excavating to begin the work for the Bach home next week. The plan is to have it completed this year.

“We’ll actually be doing a panel build with Lake City Bank, what we did with Wildman last year. We’ll be in the Lake City parking lot to build this house, so we’ll be pre-fabbing the house with them in June,” Logan stated.

If anyone wants to get involved or make a donation to Habitat, visit the website at kosciuskohabitat.org.