FRESNO, Calif. (KMPH) -
Habitat for Humanity reaches a major milestone. The non–profit has just built its 100th home in Fresno County.
Tony Miranda is the executive director for Habitat for Humanity Fresno County. "I want to be the first one to hand over your key for your house. Welcome home Christina."
It was a moment Christina Ordonez has dreamed about for years. The single mother of three now owns a three bedroom two bath home in Southeast Fresno. She invested 500 hours of sweat equity. "It's fun. It's exciting. The fact that I built it from the ground up makes me more appreciative of it."
The volunteer coordinator for Habitat Joan Cook says in the beginning Christina was timid and scared. But that quickly changed. "By about week five she was jumping on the roof and running around. So she has blossomed into a construction worker."
Of course it takes an army of volunteers to build an 11–hundred square foot home. Members of the Apostles Build Team dropped by Saturday to see the finished product. "Five churches from the community came together. They pooled their resources both volunteer and financial and helped provide the materials for the home and helped build the home alongside Christina."
Whirlpool donated appliances for the kitchen, James Lighting provided the lighting fixtures and Grocery Outlet helped Christina fill her food pantry. Christina Ordonez can't believe the day she always dreamed about has arrived. "I would just like to say thank you. I didn't think I would own my own house unless I was seriously working five jobs and saving every penny but it happened."
Saturday's dedication marks the third of nine homes to be built in the Southeast Fresno development.
