Habitat for Humanity dedicates 25th house

Last Saturday, Crow River Habitat dedicated the 25th Habitat home in McLeod County. This milestone home is located at 429 Grant Ave. SE in Hutchinson. Future homeowner April Olson spoke during a short program, along with local Habitat for Humanity representatives and Diane Knorr, a Thrivent Financial representative.
Olson and her family completed over 200 hours of “sweat equity” helping to build the home, a basic tenet of Habitat for Humanity. She also will repay the zero-interest mortgage over a period of 25-35 years, illustrating Habitat for Humanity’s objective to give families a “hand up” rather than a “hand out.” Up-front building costs were covered by Habitat for Humanity fundraising, including $82,500 from Thrivent Financial, $15,000 from the Wells Fargo Foundation, and $5,000 from United Way of McLeod County.
April has five children, four who live with her, including Emma, 16, Madison, 12, Levi, 9, and Samantha, 3. They were living in Winsted in a rented home that was too small for them and had black mold until last summer, when that home went up for sale, and recently have been in an apartment in Hutchinson. They will move into their new Habitat home in mid-February, and this will change the Pepper-Watts family’s lives.
“We can’t wait to move in,” said Olson. “Everyone will be happier and healthier, and it will be more secure. Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed their time and donations! It means the world to us.”