Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
Recipient of the 12th home, Melinda Crosson (front, middle), pictured with her mother, Betty Albright, daughter Hailey Dillree, son, Austin Crosson, friend, Robert Nilram and brother Matthew Crosson as well as other friends, family, volunteers and officials pose in front of the lot of the 12th home.

MCVEYTOWN — Habitat for Humanity celebrated its 25th anniversary here in Mifflin County by breaking ground on a 12th house.

The family receiving the home as well as volunteers and committee members gathered to recognize this special milestone.

“Even those that have been a part of this organization here in Mifflin County since the very beginning” have been a part of this moment, said Jeff Bell, president of the Mifflin County Habitat for Humanity.

Lewistown Mayor Deborah Bargo presented Jeff Bell and the Mifflin County Habitat for Humanity with a proclamation recognizing their hard work and dedication during this groundbreaking ceremony Monday evening.

The new home will be located on Birch Lane in Strodes Mills; this home features a full basement and three bedrooms.

Melinda Crosson and her two children were chosen as the recipients for this house and were in attendance at the groundbreaking.

To qualify for one of these homes, families must meet HUD guidelines, have sufficient income and be in need of housing.

“This is a great program and it’s great we have something out there to help people,” said Crosson.

The Crosson family have been waiting four years to start this build because fundraising has taken up much of that time.

“I wouldn’t be able to afford this otherwise,” added Crosson.

The 49-year-old mother of four will be working hard to put in her man hours and make payments on this home.

Recipients must be willing to work with Habitat for Humanity and their volunteers on the construction and fundraising for the home. They are asked to perform 500 hours of sweat equity.

These hours can include anything from construction to cleaning and assisting plumbers and electricians.

Families also contribute by helping out at the Home and Garden Show, Burnham Community Days, and other fundraising events in the area. Habitat also provides personnel and counseling to assist in life skills in economics, budgeting, and fiscal management.

Habitat has a family selection committee that vets and verifies applications. An applicant is chosen based on their current living situation and an evaluation of their ability to succeed.

When Habitat chooses a family, they begin the process of creating a plan for the home that suits the family’s needs. They gather the material, set a schedule, set a start date, and begin to build.

Habitat expects to drill a well and for dirt to arrive at the home on Nov. 4

The organization is still fundraising for this home and has raised about three-quarters of the financial goal or about $116,000.

The total cost of the one-level three-bedroom home will be roughly $155,000 in total.