Nancy Connor (left) and Pina Dumas (right) turn the soil from their parents former property that was donated to Habitat for Humanity. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
Crystal Daly is being patient.
The latest Habitat for Humanity nominee is eager for her and her 5 children to get into their new home.
“It’s more of a relief, I know it takes patience and I have lots of patience. Everything takes time and this is one more step forward in the process of having a house,” she said.
On Thursday, the organization held an official sod turning ceremony to mark the start of construction on the property just north of Daly road on Highway 63.
“I think it’s a great day, weather hasn’t co-operated with many builders, it’s been so wet so obviously there have been delays in construction and we just hope everything proceeds from this point forward. we are very excited about this opportunity for Crystal Daly and her family,” said Habitat for Humanity North Bay and Blue Sky Chair John Humble.
As for the land, it was donated to Habitat for Humanity by the D’Agostino family.
John D’Agostino, along with his sisters Nancy Connor and Pina Dumas were on hand for the official sod turning as well.
John, who operates D'Agostino & Associates Law firm, has provided legal help to the organization from the start.
He felt it was perfect to donate his parents old property to the cause.
“I was touched by the concept and I thought it was an absolutely fantastic way to give back to the community and it sat in the back of my mind for many years and when an opportunity arose to actually do a little more than provide services, we as a family offered to provide a piece of property that was not being used by us and was just a perfect purpose for habitat and here we are,” he said.
The piece of land has a unique connection to Crystal Daly’s family. She believes the D’Agostino property itself was once owned by her great, great grandparents who moved to the Feronia area back in the 1800’s.
Daly thanked all the community partners such as Home Depot, Royal Bank, Widdifield High School, Canadore College, Rotary Tools, that are helping make this dream home come true.
“Everything is just falling into place and we couldn’t do this without them,” Daly said about the community partners.
“It just shows that it takes a community to build a home, just like it takes a community to raise children. In all, this is all for my kids, everything they are doing is for my kids,” added Daly, who has one daughter who suffered from cancer, two children with learning disabilities, and an autistic son.
“That makes me feel proud.”
The house, which is being built by volunteers and students from the Widdifield Senior Secondary Construction Class, is expected to be completed by early in the new year, with the latest being the spring of 2015.
Crystal Daly thanks everyone for the support during the Habitat for Humanity sod turning Thursday morning at the site of her new home. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
