Tears of Christmas joy were shed last Saturday, December 16, as Bay Area Habitat for Humanity dedicated its 46^th home to the Loredo family. Seventy five friends, family members, and Habitat members participated in a moving English/Spanish ceremony led by Pastor Todd Stocker of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and Father Alberto Ostina of Queen of Angels Church in Dickinson. Following the service, guests and family members oohed, aahed, and cried as they toured the beautifully furnished 5 bedroom Habitat home.

Habitat for Humanity does not usually furnish homes, but in the late fall, Habitat volunteers discovered that the Loredos and their 5 children did not have beds. The Loredo family had been an incredibly hardworking family dedicating over 1000 hours of labor in the construction of their home and other Habitat homes. (Habitat requires that each family work 350 hours of "sweat equity" on Habitat homes) A call went out to some local churches to provide beds for the family’s new home and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church’s women’s group took on the challenge and went into overdrive. The 5 bedrooms were split among different women’s groups in the church and what started as a simple drive to purchase beds evolved into a version of Extreme Home Makeover. Each room was furnished with top-of-the-line beds and frames (heavily discounted from Rooms To Go Furniture Store), complete linen and comforter sets, pillows, decorative pillows, stuffed animals, end tables, lamps, alarm clocks, dressers, and framed pictures. Matching blankets and Christmas pillow cases made by two volunteers adorned each bed. Another group of very generous Habitat volunteers purchased a dining room set for 8, and 3 very special Santa Clauses purchased a washer, dryer, and dishwasher for this deserving family.

Volunteers worked feverishly after Thanksgiving to finish and furnish the home on time for the special day. On the morning of the ceremony, volunteers frantically finished setting up furniture, making beds, and putting the finishing touches on the home. Minutes before the Loredos arrived, the front door was wrapped for Christmas, adorned with red ribbon and a Christmas wreath, and promptly locked so that the family would not see the Christmas miracle that awaited them. After the ceremony, Bob Ward, Habitat’s Construction Manager, presented the Loredos the keys to their home. As they opened the door to their new home, guests and family alike were overwhelmed by this incredible gift of love that lay before them.

The magical day was capped off by a delicious tamale lunch prepared and served by the Loredo family as a thank you to the Habitat volunteers. Bay Area Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian housing ministry that partners with low-income families to build decent homes in Dickinson.