Habitat for Humanity hosts wall-raising ceremony for first-ever veteran build in Marion County

Habitat for Humanity of Marion County marked a major milestone on Friday morning by officially raising the walls on its first-ever “Veteran Build,” a brand-new home dedicated to a local United States Army veteran family.

Representatives from the non-profit organization, local volunteers, sponsors, and elected officials gathered for the special event on Friday, July 10, to celebrate and support the future homeowners, the Haynes family.

The primary home sponsor for this historic build is Verteks Consulting, Inc., a local professional consulting firm.

“To witness the community gathering for this special occasion is to witness the foundation of the work we do at Habitat,” representatives from Habitat for Humanity of Marion County shared in a statement following the event. The group expressed immense gratitude to the volunteers and sponsors who made the build possible.

The wall-raising ceremony represents the initial phase of the homeownership pipeline for the Haynes family, who will work alongside construction staff and volunteers to complete the property.

The milestone comes on the heels of other recent successes for the local organization, which recently hosted a double house blessing ceremony to welcome two other families into their homes.

During that event, local residents Nicole Connelly and Charlene Tucker officially received the keys to their houses after completing hundreds of “sweat equity” hours working directly on construction sites alongside community members.

The Haynes family now joins a rapidly expanding local network of residents who have achieved homeownership through the program.

Other recent Marion County homeowners include Ruby Hernandez and Kyndall Ritzie, Vanessa Mingo, who contributed over 400 hours of volunteer service before earning her home, and the mother-daughter duo of Jacquelyn Goodman and Danielle Roberts.

Founded in 1990, Habitat for Humanity of Marion County has spent more than three decades building and rehabilitating local properties, providing critical affordable housing solutions for low-income and working-class families throughout the community.

What are your thoughts on Habitat for Humanity of Marion County launching its first-ever Veteran Build for a local military family? Share your perspective in a comment below or write a letter to the editor.

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