07/31/2006 The Middletown Press

Family ready to move into its new 'Habitat'

By: Joseph Wenzel IV


MIDDLETOWN - Aaron Miller is only 12 years old, but he already knows the value of hard work.
He's painted, done yard work, filled envelopes, moved things and even cooked for volunteer builders. What did it get him? Aaron and his mother, Cheryl, will soon move into a new home in Middletown built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers, allowing Aaron to leave a school and neighborhood in which he felt bullied. Last Aug. 18, Cheryl went to a Habitat for Humanity application meeting for a house on 13 Huber Ave . She waited with 75 other applicants for her shot at getting a new house. She was one of ten people who met Habitat for Humanity's requirements, and eventually she was awarded the Huber Ave. house, which was donated by Wesleyan University. According to Nancy Liddell, chairperson of Family Services, the Millers were selected for three main reasons: 'their need for simple, decent housing, their ability to pay the mortgage of the house and willingness to work with Habitat for Humanity.' She added that Cheryl had to complete at least 150 hours of sweat equity, which are hours spent working on the house, and 50 additional hours of sweat equity could be done by relatives. "She has been an exemplary partner," said Liddell, adding that Cheryl and Aaron have gone above and behind their requirements. Cheryl has been working on the house every Saturday since December. She said the process was at first overwhelming, but now she is thrilled and excited. And Aaron is more then fulfilling his share. He has become a kind of volunteer spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity - telling other people about the message and functions of the organization.

According to its Web site, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry whose goal is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness throughout the world. The institution has more than 2,300 local affiliates, state support organizations and national organizations in nearly 100 countries. Additionally, Habitat builds almost 25,000 homes per year.

Aaron, an active member of the 4-H club, did a project on Habitat for Humanity. He wrote an essay on the organization and also made a collage of pictures that showed his new house's transformation from December to July. He also picked out pictures for the family scrapbook. Aaron recently participated in the 'Home Tweet Home Contest,' where children made birdhouses and submitted them to be judged. The three winning birdhouses were then made into kits -including Aaron's, who built the winning house for his age group. According to Kate Antonucci, close to 100 kits were sold and there are still some available. And life is changing for Aaron in other ways. This September he will be starting new at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, he will begin taking karate classes - and there is something else. "His attitude has changed," said mom, Cheryl.
As for his new home, all Aaron could do at first was simply say, 'thank you,' but now he has started to show off the house to many of the volunteers and relatives that come by.
Several rooms in the house have pictures showing what the room looked like before the renovation. Joyce Hatton Yarrow, Executive Director of Middlesex Habitat for Humanity of Connecticut Inc, said that Aaron's room was the easiest to figure out because of one factor. The room was painted in bright blue, his favorite color. Aaron already knows where his television, radio, games, CDs and Game Cube will go in his new room. Now that much of the work is done on the blue-painted three-bedroom house, Habitat volunteers believe the Millers will be able to move into their new dwelling on August 18, exactly one year since the project first began.

For now, one family has a new house to call a home. And one little boy can go to his room and start to prepare for his next set of challenges. But, there are many more families who also need homes. Middlesex Habitat for Humanity of Connecticut Inc. President Richard Engelhardt said there are 10 possible sites for new Habitat for Humanity homes. He said that of the 10, there is a chance for a few to be made into new homes. He pointed out that land is the hardest recourse for Habitat to come by and made a plea for further donations of land.

Anyone who would like more information on Habitat for Humanity, that wants to buy a birdhouse, or that wants to see about donating land should call (860) 343-9179.
To contact Joseph Wenzel IV, call him at (860) 347-3331 ext. 222 or by e-mail at [ email ].