Habitat for Humanity Gala raises funds for projects
The two most recent home recipients of Habitat for Humanity homes– Kathy Brown and Tanya Legare -- were on hand for the Habitat for Humanity Spring Gala, which saw the local organization raise thousands of dollars for future builds.
For Brown, her build is becoming more and more real every day. The main structure of the two-storey house at 1160 First Ave. N.E. is currently in place and interior work has begun in earnest.
“It’s awesome, really good. Last week we just got power and some plumbing, so now we can start putting up walls and gyprock and drywall and all those things I don’t know how to do,” Brown said with a laugh when asked on her build’s progress.
“When I first saw the dirt on the ground I said ‘there’s no way a house is going to fit here. But slowly and surely walls were going up and it was like ‘wow, there’s a real house here’. I had a hard time picturing it but there’s a house there; it’s definitely real and soon I can pick out my bedroom and (son) Carter can pick out his bedroom... it’s awesome.” Legare finds herself in a much different position: her home, located directly next door to Brown’s, was already built when a fire damaged much of the rear of the home. The house was sold and the new owners decided to donate it to Habitat for Humanity after beginning renovations. “I had the choice of taking that and I grabbed it,” Legare said. “They were working on that when they picked the family and when we were chosen I asked if we could start immediately so I could work on my own house.”
Legare was accepted into the Habitat program on her second attempt and has since moved in completely. “I had a friend who convinced me to try again; she told me not to give up and I didn’t and now my girls (Brooklyn and Chelsea) can be kids again and have a house to play in and grow and be their weird little selves,” she said with a laugh. Both recipients thanked Habitat in speeches at the Gala, saying how much of a life-changing experience being chosen had been.
“I can say that it’s the most amazing community organization that I’ve learned about or come into contact with,” Brown said prior to the event. “They’re actually in the business of making dreams come true. They get communities together, absolute strangers come and work on the house. A few weeks ago, there was a whole team of CP Rail guys who came and built my roof. I’d never met them before, but they came just to help Habitat. So that says something about Habitat and the community, that people are willing to bust their butt to build a home for a family that they don’t even know.” Habitat for Humanity Moose Jaw chairman Bill Harris also spoke and thanked the Habitat development committee as well as the major sponsors – Purposed Financial Group, Fidelity Investments, Milltek Surveys and RBC – and the dozens and dozens of auction and raffle item donors for their support.
The evening also included musical entertainment by The New Montagues and was capped off with a night of dancing.