LOCKPORT
ALLIANCE CHURCH
In Christ we who are many
form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. - Romans 12:5
HUMANITY: Habitat group helps Lockport family
By Bill WolcottLockport Union-Sun & Journal
Chris Blowers who has two jobs will joyfully begin work on
a third this week — his own home with the help of Habitat for
Humanity.
“It’s a definite blessing from God,” the father of three said Sunday
at the ground-breaking ceremonies Sunday at 6201 Old Beattie Road.
“It’s been a long journey, tumultuous at times. God has seen us
through the whole thing. It could not have been a better outcome.”
Chris and Christine Blowers, and Craig, 15, Clarissa 6, and Caleb,
2, took part with volunteers at ground-breaking ceremonies. By
Thanksgiving the Town of Lockport family hopes to be able to move
out of their two-bedroom apartment off Transit Road and into their
new ranch style home near Rapids Fire Hall sub station.
Chris, 41, gets up at 4 a.m. to work at the UPS loading
dock. He then works full-time at Home Depot. The family has to get
500 hours of sweat equity into the building according to Norm Kahler,
president of Lockport Habitat.
Habitat volunteers labor on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and
Chris Blowers may have to cut back on Home Depot hours.
Friends of the family and volunteers can help with 250 sweat equity
hours. “I’ll do what ever I can,” said his father, Charles Blowers,
70. “I’m physically challenged, but I’ll be here. He’s gone through
quite a bit. He’s a good kid and he’s hung in with the Lord all the
way.”
Christine Blowers grew up on Grand Island. The couple married in
1991 and lived in a mobile home in the Woodlands for 15 years. The
Blowers were able to pay off the mobile home with the help of a
friend, but lost in their bid to buy a home.
“We couldn’t ask for a better plan than this,” Christine said. “We
are ecstatic, thrilled and overwhelmed.”
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian
organization which helps families get into their own homes. Lockport
has built 11. The family gets a $50,000 20-year interest free
mortgage. Their income range can not be too little or too much and
they must have a good credit rating.
“Instead of a handout, it’s a hand-up,” sad Kahler, a retired high
school principal.
The land of Beattie Road was donated by the estate of a family. Work
on the three-bedroom ranch will be completed in about five months.
Or, as Building Supervisor Carl Stieffenhofer says, “It will be
finished when it’s finished ... We would love to have it done by
Thanksgiving.”
Stieffenhofer noted that the work is being done by volunteers and
joked about nails being lost. There were several volunteers on the
wet grounds ready to go to work.
Craig, a student at Lockport High School, goes with the flow, his
father said. Clarissa 6, and Caleb, 2, have known something is going
on. “They’ve been feeding off each other the last couple of weeks,”
dad said. “It snowballs. That’s good and bad.”
“It’s going to be great, more room,” Craig said. “I’ll finally be
able to keep my stuff away from my siblings. I just have all my
stuff in the corner, because I don’t have that much.”
About 50 people took part in the festivities that took place under a
tent at the vacant lot.
The Rev. Kevin Backus of the Grand Island Bible Presbyterian Church
led the blessing. He has known Christine Blowers since she was a
child.
Kathleen Michalski of the Family Partnership Committee led the hymn,
“This is Holy Ground.” Melissa Dunlap will serve as the family
partner.
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott 439-9222, ext. 6246.