Cheyenne Stickle and her sister, Andrea
Additional photos at Parkersburg News and Sentinel CU
PARKERSBURG - Wood County Habitat for Humanity broke ground on its 50th and 51st homes Thursday in celebration of the organization's 20th anniversary.
The single-story houses at 4304 and 4308 14th Ave. in Parkersburg will be constructed over the summer with the help of about 150 volunteers and the "Habitat Road Trip Crazies," a group which travels around the country to blitz-build homes in two days.
"This is a huge milestone for us," said Alvin Phillips, executive director. "We started this organization in 1990, and it's so exciting that we've been able to do so much. We've come a long way, and we are blessed to have such a generous community here in Parkersburg."
Neighbors, volunteers and Habitat for Humanity board members attended the groundbreaking ceremony to congratulate the new homeowners.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian ministry that builds and renovates homes for low-income families. Phillips said some of the materials for the two houses have been donated by Whirlpool, Wincore and Hajoca.
The Parkersburg Bicentennial Habitat Blitz Build for the two houses will take place June 19 and 20, but the build will be supplemented all summer by other volunteers.
"It takes a lot of work, and our goal is to get as much done as possible in the two days of blitz-building. Those two days will probably accomplish what we could normally do in six weeks," said Phillips. "Our hope is that the drywall will be hung by the time the blitz-build is over, and our goal is to have the houses move-in ready by the end of August."
The Jacoby family will move into house number 50, 4304 14th Ave., at the end of the summer. Kristy and Jeff Jacoby and their four boys Kanyon, Stone, Kaiden and Gage are excited to own their first home.
Our pastor always said there was a home in our future," said Kristy Jacoby. "The application process went so smoothly. When we found out we were approved, I jumped up and down like a little kid."
Kristy and Jeff Jacoby have been putting in volunteer hours toward the house called sweat equity. While Jeff Jacoby mows lawns, Kristy Jacoby has been volunteering in the Habitat for Humanity Restore on Seventh Street. The couple will work 350 hours over the summer.
"We are prepared to work for the house," said Kristy. "It's just an amazing feeling to know that soon this lot will be our home. It's something we will have in our family and be able to pass on."
Andrew Stickle, the proud owner of house number 51, 4308 14th Ave., will move in with his four daughters at the end of the summer.
"It's very exciting for us," he said. "This is a new phase of our lives."
