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Habitat for Humanity breaks ground with families who will live in Emma Street duplex

Cathy Dobson This morning (Thursday), ground was broken for build number 77 and 78 by Habitat for Humanity Sarnia/Lambton. Once construction is complete on the duplex on Emma Street in Sarnia, two local families will own their own homes.
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From left are: Habitat volunteer Nathan Colquhoun, Deb McDermott of Sarnia-Lambton After Hours Rotary Club contributing to the build, Habitat board chair Martin Vrolyk, homeowner Liz Nead with Hes’us Greenbird, 9, and Katalaya Greenbird, 10, second homeowner Farajallah Alzuhbi with Siline Alzuhbi, 8, and Masa Alzuhbi, 2, and Darryl Blum, Habitat’s director of build services. (Cathy Dobson photo)

Cathy Dobson

This morning (Thursday), ground was broken for build number 77 and 78 by Habitat for Humanity Sarnia/Lambton.

Once construction is complete on the duplex on Emma Street in Sarnia, two local families will own their own homes.

The land was donated by the City of Sarnia and the federal government has contributed $100,000 for this build through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, said Habitat CEO David Waters.

This project is a particularly special one for Habitat as it is in tribute to the late Maurice McAuslan. Before his death last year, Maurice put in at least 25,000 volunteer hours on numerous Habitat builds.

"Maurice was a crucial part of our volunteer build team and dedicated 11 years of volunteer service toward building homes and projects for Habitat for Humanity Sarnia/Lambton," said David. "He was our resident cut expert and could always be found on the build sites with his mitre saw and quick-witted jokes."

Members of the two families that will help build at 268 and 270 Emma St. were on hand for the groundbreaking. Both are multigenerational, one is a family of seven from Syria, and the other is a mom with four children and one grandchild.


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