Time And Effort Help Oskaloosa Family Achieve Homeownership

Angela Fenton accepts the keys to her new home on Sunday.

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Homeownership can be an important part of the family.Friends, family and volunteers came out on Sunday to help Angela Fenton and her children celebrate their new home.

The home, at 603 North D St., was built by Mahaska County Habitat for Humanity, which included many volunteer hours by many different community organizations.

The love and labor of those organizations was complimented by the dedication and hours volunteers and the new homeowners put into the project as well.

Fenton knew 2 years ago that she was going to get a home, “it’s been a long time waiting”.

Fenton and her family have been staying with Fenton’s mother while the home was being completed. When her children were with their father, Fenton would be at the home working.

Fenton’s father tackled the concrete work, while Fenton herself has helped to frame, install windows, siding the home and painting were among those tasks she helped with. “Just about every step of the way I’ve been here”.

After cutting her finger once at the home during construction, Fenton says with a smile that “I think I can actually say I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this place”.

That experience of helping to build the home gave Fenton extra confidence to tackle problems as they may come up when she takes over the ownership. “Being a single mom, you kind of have to learn how to do some of that stuff, so I did learn a lot. If I come across something that needs fixing, maybe I’ll be able to do it myself versus having to depend on someone else do it for me”.

Fenton thanked Habitat for Humanity and all the different groups of volunteers who came and shared their time and talents on the home.

Fenton also thanked her family and friends who spent countless hours helping to make the home possible.

“Everybody that had a helping hand in here, thanks so much,” said Fenton.

“It’s mind blowing”, said Fenton of all the help people gave during the process. “The world seems like it’s going to shambles, just so many bad things happening, but there really are good people still out there. This house is proof of that.”