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David Stanley Ford

Crews spent Saturday raising wall on habitat homes in Oklahoma City
Habitat volunteers help build futures

BY DARLA SLIPKE    Comment on this article Leave a comment
Published: February 9, 2010

Nearly two dozen hands helped hoist a wooden frame for a wall of a new home Saturday morning at Las Rosas housing development in Oklahoma City.


Construction Superintendent John Fowler, right, instructs a group of Habitat for Humanity workers how to lift the framework of a wall into place. Nearly 100 volunteers and workers helped raise the framework on two houses Saturday at Las Rosas in Oklahoma City. PHOTO BY DARLA SLIPKE, THE OKLAHOMAN

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After the piece was secured, everyone stood back and applauded.

"It’s always amazing to see the walls go up,” said Neil Simpanen, a long-time Habitat for Humanity volunteer from Mustang.

The sound of hammers pounding echoed through the cold air as nearly 100 Habitat for Humanity workers and volunteers spent the day building the framework of houses for two Oklahoma City families.

Those homes are just two of the 31 homes Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is planning to build in the Las Rosas community.

The Christian housing ministry offers mortgage loans at zero interest to hardworking, low-income families.

Nancy and Diego Sop, one of the couples who will receive a new home, helped with construction. Their children, ages 7 and 3, will have their own rooms in the house.

"I’m very happy and excited,” Nancy Sop said. "I want to thank God for giving us this home.”

Construction superintendent John Fowler, who has worked for Habitat for about three years, said he loves watching kids move into their finished home.

Fowler said members of the Pinzon family, who will get the other house under construction, give him hugs every time they see him arrive.

Fowler said he is also inspired by the volunteers’ dedication and compassion.

"Most of them don’t realize, but they’re changing someone’s future,” he said.

Katrina Wayne of Choctaw has been unemployed since October. On Saturday, she put her extra time to good use by helping nail together pieces of the wall frames.

Wayne came by herself, but she quickly made friends with the people around her.

Simpanen spends nearly every Saturday volunteering with Habitat. He said he’s glad to be part of something so rewarding.

When the rest of the volunteers crowded around a pizza table for lunch, Simpanen stayed behind and continued to work.

"We started with nothing but a slab (of concrete) and now here we are,” Simpanen said, pointing to the framework. "You can start to see the shape take form. That’s what makes it.”

Most of them don’t realize, but they’re changing someone’s future.”

John Fowler
Construction Superintendent

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David Stanley Ford



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