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Habitat house keeps Leavell family close
YOUNGSTOWN
The “Welcome Home” banner hanging on the porch railing not only welcomed Charity and Cassandra Leavell’s family to its new Habitat for Humanity- built home, it also welcomed them into the bosom of their immediate and extended family.
Cassandra’s parents, Dane and Geneva Crosby, and her grandparents, Frank and Lula Scroggins, who donated the lot on which the house is built, all live on Berwick Avenue about a block away.
“I’m overjoyed. I get to help raise my grandchildren and watch them grow up and live life,” Geneva said of the Leavell children, Aaliyah, 9, Lorenzo, 5, and Andre, 3.
The Leavells’ home, at 1316 Dryden Ave. — the 35th built by Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County, was dedicated Friday evening.
“I’m grateful. I’m just amazed at how good God is. Through Him anything is possible,” Cassandra said.
“We moved here from Florida three years ago. My wife and I heard about the program, prayed over it, went to a Habitat orientation meeting, and the rest is history,” said Charity, who works at LaFrance Cleaners on Glenwood Avenue.
“The house truly is a blessing. It’s not about us, it is about God. It’s truly amazing. I’m kind of overwhelmed and overjoyed,” he said.
The home was built by 263 volunteers donating 2,275 hours, including one who worked 163 hours on the project.
The Leavells themselves put in so-called “sweat equity,” helping build the house “far in excess of the minimum 350 hours required,” said Scott Craven, interim executive director of Habitat Mahoning County.
In addition to volunteer hours, many individuals and organizations donated money and materials to this and other Habitat Mahoning County projects, Craven said.
The Leavells will buy the home from Habitat at the appraised value, with no profit to Habitat and a zero-percent interest loan. The construction of was made possible by many local and national sponsors without whose contributions, totaling more than $75,000, the home would not have been possible, Craven said.
Major sponsors include First Energy, represented by David Turner, who congratulated the Leavells on home ownership, which he called the “cornerstone of the American Dream.”
Other sponsors include the Youngstown Community Development Agency, HFHI Soft Lumber Program, Schwebel Family Foundation and William Green.
Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County is a faith-based, ecumenical, nonprofit builder of simple, decent and affordable homes for low-income people in the community.
For information about volunteering and donating, call Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County at 330- 743-7244.