PORT TOWNSEND — With prayers, presents and blessings, two Habitat for Humanity houses were dedicated Sunday and stand ready to receive their new families.
“We gather to bless these homes and these families,” said Bruce Bode of Quimper Unitarian Universalist Church.
“We stand on ground made holy by the hard work, dedication and fellowship that built these homes.”
About 50 volunteers, church members and friends attended Sunday’s dedication, led by Bode, Wendell Ankeny of Trinity United Methodist Church, Skip Cadorette of First Baptist, Carla Caldwell of St. Mary’s, Howard Fosser of Grace Lutheran and Carolyn Schiebel of First Presbyterian.
The six churches helped build a house belonging to Darin Vercoe and her son, Eli, 9.
Funds raised
Each church also raised $5,000 toward the construction cost of the two-bedroom house nestled in the trees.
“I’ve just been amazed by the whole process,” Vercoe said. “Even as late as Friday, people showed up that I’ve never met before.”
The church members also loaned a hand building the house next door for Anna and Immanuel Green, both graduates of Port Townsend High School, and their daughter, Eva, 2.
Both families put in more than 500 hours of “sweat equity” since breaking ground for the two houses, located on 20th Street off Sheridan Street, in March.
They plan to move in by Thanksgiving.