Habitat Way Groundbreaking Cermony

Elric and Justin Pleasant play near their new home site.

While the wind buffeted the crowd, the Muro and Pleasant families sat in the front row looking off to the spot where their houses will one day sit – on a street called Habitat Way. Over 200 others joined them on July 26 to participate in the groundbreaking and celebration of a brand-new Habitat neighborhood coming to town, thanks to the City of Temecula, Centex Homes, Guidant, and hundreds of others.

The crowd was made up of volunteers, City officials, and 1,000 Friends donors, plus members of the local Harley Davidson chapter – bikes and all. Called the Temecula Valley HOG and Ladies of Harley, a number of the bikers are donors and supporters of Habitat. One of them had a special reason to help – his mother lives in a South Dakota Habitat house.

After Venture Crew 309 presented the flag and JoNel Christensen sang the national anthem, brief comments were offered by Dave Blake – Affiliate President; Mayor Jeff Stone; John Meyer of the Temecula Redevelopment Agency; Brent Eskildsen, Senior Field Manager for Centex Homes and Construction Team Lead; Susan Norton, Guidant Vice President of Learning & Development; Christine McCusker, Fundraising Team Lead; and Deborah Hollingsworth, Executive Director.

Deborah introduced the families and shared some poignant details about their pathways to Habitat. There was the kindly landlady, Hazel Kramer, who took the Habitat flyer to the Muros, encouraged them to apply, and then helped them step-by-step through the application process. There also was the story of the money for the $1,000 down payment, painstakingly raised by Leticia Muro through babysitting and odd jobs and never touched, even when times got tough and Saul was injured and unable to work.

Dawn Pleasants story is one of a cheerful giver. Volunteers working alongside Dawn and her children in 2002 at the Perris house had no inkling that smiling Dawn and her children had also experienced significant challenges and were in need of a helping hand. Never complaining about the 100-degree weather, they helped with the landscaping and seemed to be genuinely interested in learning about plants and gardening. They gave selflessly to help others. Later this year we’ll be working alongside them again. But this time we will be planting in their own garden, in their own yard!

Saturday, July 26 was a great kickoff. Now we’re all anxiously awaiting the build. We’ll keep you posted as the details evolve. In the meantime, thanks to each and every one of you for your support.

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