A Note from Selena
*Names changed to protect homeowner privacy
This holiday season is especially meaningful for our family of six, because it marks a little less than a year since we moved into our very first home through Lake-McHenry Habitat. Before this, the idea of homeownership felt like a distant dream, especially in today’s economy and especially because neither of us grew up in families that ever owned their homes. We never imagined we’d be the ones to break that cycle.
Walking through the doors of our own house for the first time was more than just a milestone—I’ll never forget the looks on our children’s faces. It was a turning point. Having a place to call ours has brought an emotional, spiritual, and physical shift that we didn’t know was possible. Our children are thriving with the stability and security that comes with having a safe, permanent home. They’ve stopped asking “are we going to have to move again?” We as parents feel stronger, more grounded, and filled with hope for the future.
This opportunity has given us the ability to build something bigger than ourselves—a legacy. For the first time, we know we will have something to pass down to our children. That sense of permanence, pride, and possibility has changed the way we live day to day and the way we dream about tomorrow.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the Habitat staff and volunteers who believed in us. Their commitment to walking alongside families like ours, guiding us through the process, and ensuring that the dream of homeownership can be achieved is something we will never forget. And the generous donors and supporters whose generosity didn’t just help build a house, it helped build our family’s future. The kindness and persistence of all of these people—most of whom will never meet us or other Habitat families—opened a door that has changed our lives forever.
As we celebrate the holidays this year in our own home, our gratitude is overflowing. This home is more than a building. It is the foundation of our future, a place where joy and love grow, and where the next generation of our family will always have roots.
“It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried.” – Carl Rogers
You make it possible.
Stories like this one don’t happen by accident. They happen because people like you believe that every family deserves a place to call home. Your generosity is the reason a child can stop worrying about where they’ll sleep next. Your support is why parents can finally dream about tomorrow instead of just surviving today.
Right now, there are more families in our community waiting for this same life-changing opportunity—families who are working hard, showing up, and ready to build alongside us. They just need someone to believe in them the way you believed in Katarina’s family.
And right now, your gift can go twice as far. A generous foundation is matching every new and increased donation this holiday season, dollar for dollar. That means your $50 becomes $100. Your $250 becomes $500.
Will you help us turn more distant dreams into front door keys? Will you be the reason another child stops asking, “Are we going to have to move again?”
Give today, and watch your impact multiply.