Spencer Habitat for Humanity build completed

By Valorie Brecht It may have been a cold, dreary day outside, but hearts were warmed inside when the Marshfield Area Habitat for Humanity (MAHFH) recently dedicated their new Spencer build.

The Kerksieck family, consisting of Cassy, Kaiden, Dominic and Avry, enjoyed a formal “welcome home” to their property on LaSalle Street last Wednesday. The ceremony included a Scripture reading, presentation of the home, candle lighting ceremony, responsive reading, blessing and presentation of gifts, with snacks and refreshments following. MAHFH was founded in 1994 with a mission of providing simple, decent, affordable homes for people in need in Marshfield and the surrounding area. Volunteers build to help others. Homeowners are chosen based on the applicant’s level of need, their willingness to partner with Habitat and their ability to repay a mortgage through an affordable payment plan. Habitat encourages responsible homeownership and offers “a hand up, not a hand out,” with partner homeowners working together with Habitat volunteers to build their home.

The Kerksiecks’ home is the 19th home MAHFH has completed. Their first home was also in Spencer. The land the Kerksiecks’ home sits on was donated to MAHFH about 15 years ago, but they hadn’t found the right applicant until Cassy.

“We were so pleased to have Cassy apply, because she was one of the first individuals who said, ‘I was born in Spencer. I want to stay in Spencer.’… Just about the time we thought, ‘Eh, let’s sell it,’ someone would show up. Then we kind of went through that again, and then Cassy

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popped up,” said Don Zais, president of MAHFH. “It’s our pleasure to have started and completed this home.”

The groundbreaking took place May 5 and the family moved in Oct. 17.

At the dedication ceremony, Ed Korlesky of MAHFH presented a small gift to each of the construction volunteers present who helped over the summer. Also, Zais thanked the area businesses that provided in-kind donations, such as Wisconsin Homes, which built and donated the cabinets; Whirlpool, which donated the refrigerator and stove; Kohler, which donated the sinks, vanities and fixtures; and Stratford Homes, which donated the shingles for the roof. The MAHFH Board of Directors donated the curtains and blinds for the windows. The Village of Spencer donated a tree for the backyard.

“We have many, many individuals and groups that help us,” said Zais.

The Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Central Wisconsin presented a quilt to each family member.

The guild encompasses a large area, including members from the Wisconsin Rapids area to as far north as Dorchester. Several members worked on the quilts, which were themed according to the colors or cartoon characters each family member liked. It takes about 30 hours to piece together the top of each quilt. The guild has donated at least 20 quilts to Habitat for Humanity home recipients.

In addition, the Marshfield Area Altrusa Club presented a tote of books and a bookshelf to the boys, who were eager to look through the books right away.

Kerksieck expressed her heartfelt appreciation to MAHFH for helping her achieve her dream of home ownership and providing a safe place to raise her sons.

“I truly appreciate all of your encouragement, well wishes and support. My kids and I are truly blessed to have this opportunity. I would like to thank Habitat for giving us something we can call our own, a beautiful home. Habitat is an organization built on faith and hope. Their primary purpose is to give a family a home, but most importantly they provide families with a community, hope and dignity, and that is exactly what they did here. They gave us hope again, and for that we will forever be grateful. Habitat is more than just an organization to us; they’ve become family,” wrote Cassy in a statement she prepared for the occasion.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home has the all bedrooms and bathrooms right off the great room, which means no space is wasted on hallways. Piping and an egress window were installed in one downstairs room, so it could be turned into a bedroom later on. A few projects remain to be completed, including the lawn, which will be done next spring. At the time of the dedication ceremony, concrete was being put in for the driveway and sidewalk.

About Habitat For Humanity Marshfield Area Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian-based, ecumenical, non-proselytizing housing ministry. More than a construction organization, Habitat is a proven people-to-people partnership aimed at the development and empowerment of persons and communities.

Habitat for Humanity volunteers work in partnership with homeowners who must work a minimum number of hours on their own homes (known as “sweat equity”), building a sense of responsibility.

For the partner homeowners, the interest-free mortgage and sale of the home with no profit markup by Habitat makes their dream of home ownership possible.

For more information, go to habitat.org/wi/marshfield/ marshfield-area-hfh.

VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTOS