Brandee's journey

Hey Folks,

This post will have some words from the 2012 Women Build Home recipient Brandee, about her journey with Willamette West Habitat for Humanity to become a homeowner for the first time. Brandee is an incredible woman and mom. She continues to work so hard to provide a loving home and good life for her daughter Kaylee. We are so very, very happy she is part of our Willamette West Habitat family.

Here's Brandee's story:

I grew up in Portland Oregon where my father Craig Roberts is a truck driver and my mother Dianne Roberts used to be a house cleaner and they raised 4 children, they are kind and loving parents they have been married 40 years. I am employed at Fred Meyers and have worked there for 12 years I like the customers and the fellow employees. I am a single parent. My Daughter Kaylee is 13 she really likes her new school and has made lots of friends! I used to work at my fathers landscaping business he has taught me a lot of things over the years, one of the most rewarding with landscaping is all the hard work with the beautiful finished product. I have already planted grass with Paula's help. She was the Women Build Lead on my home. I also have lilac bushes and rhododendrons and roses, a magnolia tree and a Japanese maple that Kate donated. It was at the Hillsboro Library that Josephine my niece, Kaylee and I went to learn about Habitat For Humanity program with Mark Forker leading the presentation. We received an application which I, as quickly as possible, filled out and returned. The application requested job history, credit, 3 years taxes and current living conditions. I was already excited about the hopeful future for Kaylee and I. A couple of gentlemen reviewed my application while I waited to see if we would get a second interview in our current home. I am delighted to say we did! Two very kind men Sung Ho and Fran interviewed Kaylee and I to determine our need and to see if she was agreeable to change schools. In the mail on June 30 2011, I received a partnership letter from Habitat For Humanity which was a life changing moment. I was going to be a recipient of a Habitat House! I started jumping up and down! I still get teary eyed thinking about it. In July I started volunteering for my hours and by December I was informed I was the recipient of the Womens Build house. What an honor! Building my own house has always been a dream of mine and Habitat for Humanity, all the regular volunteers, Habitat administrators, donors and many other volunteers have made my dreams come true. Thank You! I really enjoyed swinging a hammer, framing walls, and doing dry wall. I also did duct work and mudding with Cathy and was so happy to work side by side with Paula Ohland, Lynn Johnston and Mary. Their dedication and patience with me was wonderful. Mike, Mark, Erin, Molly, )I want to name all of them) Harry, ,Larry John, Ernie, Jerry, June and Hal. Just to name a few. What an encouraging group to be with! Definitely God's will. I feel I have received the greatest gift of friendship and joy so I hope to pay it forward and continue to help others. Along with family, regulars and friends I finished with my 500 hours in July of 2013. I continued to work and donate hours to fellow Habitat recipients. I signed the papers on October 30 of 2013, where I was greeted by a welcoming party and a beautiful tool box filled with tools I used to hang curtains and put in a fire extinguisher ! Our house, Kaylee and I received a Blessing from Cliff and Habitat for Humanity! I feel more secure, less unsure about the future. I love the warmth in our home. In our former apartment we had baseboards bellow the windows which was very expensive heating and I could only afford to turn the heat on for 1 hour a day usually in the evenings after work. In our new home we are able to be warm. Forever Grateful, Brandee

Check out today's next post about a fundraising event held today.

Nanette