Woman learns she will receive home

For Cindy Garule, Sunday was a day she has been working toward since January 2008.

Sunday was the day she learned she and her family -- Katie, Jessie, Colby and Dalton -- would soon have a house of their own to call home.

“It’s a dream come true. It really is,” said Garule, holding back tears after learning her family had been selected to move into Fremont Area Habitat of Humanity’s 50th house.

Sunday’s announcement came near the conclusion of a celebration of Habitat’s first 50 homes. About 200 people attended the event, which included food, children’s games and speeches from previous Habitat homeowners, a proclamation by Mayor “Skip” Edwards and Gov. Dave Heineman. The September Project provided special music.

Habitat Executive Director Karen Melang also announced an anonymous donor had paid for the construction of the 50th home.

“Homeownership is the American dream,” Heineman said. “It’s happening right here in Fremont. This is a special community with special values.”

Added Edwards: “We build a house, but the families are the ones that make it a home.”

Becoming a Habitat homeowner changes lives, partner families said.

“It really makes a difference. It made a difference in my life,” said Trino Nuno Jr., whose family lives in the first house Habitat built in 1994.

Now a senior at Midland Lutheran College, he plans to apply for dental college. In fact, said Melang, all of the Nuno children plan careers in medicine.

For 8-year-old Jamie Knoell, accompanying his mother, Lori, to pay the monthly mortgage payment on Habitat home No. 24 is exciting.

“I look forward to going with my mom to make the payment,” he said.

“I have very good neighbors. I live on a very good block,” he added.

His mother wanted to thank Fremont residents for their support of her and Habitat.

“Thank God, thank people, thank Fremont for giving me a second chance,” Lori Knoell said.

For Knoell, Garule and others, Habitat is providing a chance to build a better life.

Garule first put her name on a waiting list in 2008, but it wasn’t until late last year that she actually began the process of becoming a Habitat homeowner when the application arrived in the mail.

After meeting income guidelines and going through an interview process, she was selected as a partner family on March 17.

“I was really excited,” she said.

“It’s an amazing building crew we have,” she added. “The volunteers are amazing.”

Garule continues to put in sweat equity hours -- time spent working with volunteers to build homes. She must put in 175 hours herself and family and friends must contribute another 75 before she can become a homeowner and begin paying off a zero-interest mortgage.

She has it mapped out and hopes to be able to have an extended family Christmas at the house at 411 W. 21st St.