Dec. 2, 2008, Johnson City, Tenn.—Today stands to be a great day for Teddy and Rita Ingram and their family because by this afternoon they are to be the recipients of a new house. Thanks to Habitat for Humanity and ETSU, this couple and their six children will be celebrating the holidays in a new home at 705 Franklin St., just about a half mile from campus.

“Over 30 student organizations helped in the construction of this home,” Wyeth Lawson, co-project coordinator for the ETSU Habitat for Humanity project, said in a news conference this morning. The ETSU community contributed the majority of the labor and $35,000 toward the cost of the house, construction for which began in August.

The Ingram family will be getting a 1,250-square-foot, four-bedroom home. However, they are not just getting a free handout. “The family must give 500 sweat hours and that is volunteer hours by the Ingram family,” Lawson said. “To receive a home, the owners a apply, they are given a loan and show that they can work to keep a home.” 

The dedication ceremony at 4 p.m. today will consist of a walkthrough of the house and award presentations to two ETSU groups that raised the most money for the house project. However, the most important part of the ceremony is the passing of the keys. This is when construction foreman Al Bentz of Holston Habitat for Humanity will hand the keys over to the Ingrams.

Then, Lawson said, the only thing that stands between the family and their move-in is a certificate of occupancy inspection, set for later today or tomorrow.

“This has been a yearlong process from when the family was told they will be getting a home to when the keys will be handed over to them,” Lawson said, adding, “It’s a very special moment… a culmination.”

                                                   – by Matt Dial and Zach Whitley