Everyone in the Community is Invited

What:  A Press Conference to Introduce the Community to our Newest Partner Family (see below)

When: Wednesday, September 3rd, at Noon

Where: Generously Hosted by Cascade Home Center

Story

Betty Havens is an intentional woman.

For 15 years now, Betty has been providing a home for her son, Archie (15), as well as two grandsons, Danny DeBonis (17) and Joey Hayne (18).

Three boys need space, so Betty has prayed, and worked, to provide adequate housing for them.

Three years ago she contacted Habitat for Humanity to ask if she could apply for a Habitat home, but the local affiliate was not taking applications at that time.

Betty told her boys “if God wants us to have a Habitat house,” we will have one.

So when Habitat volunteers dropped off housing orientation brochures at Wal Mart, where Betty serves as the lead Customer Service Manager, Betty requested time off to attend the orientation.  Following site visits and a lot of questions, she was chosen unanimously by the Habitat Family Selection Committee to become the 11^th family served by the Cottage Grove Area Habitat for Humanity Affiliate.

“God just leads me,” explains Betty, who is a member of the New Hope Baptist Church of Creswell.

In addition to prayer, the entire family pitches in to keep moving forward.  Joey works nights at Wal Mart stocking shelves, while both Archie and Danny work different shifts at Empire Video.  And on top of that, there’s school.  Joey graduated last year, Danny is a junior and Archie is a sophomore at Cottage Grove High School.  Betty is hoping that Joey will soon have enough funds saved to enter college.

For now, all four are focused on completing their sweat equity and making choices for their wonderful new home.  Although lavender is her favorite color, Betty says she would like the house exterior to be yellow, a nice cheerful yellow.