Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 7/1/04)

The Father Sikora Council of Nativity Parish in Burke was awarded the Best Community Project of the Year by the Virginia State Council for Colombian Year 2004 for its home-building efforts in Appalachia.

It was the third home built by the Knights of Columbus, who also received the prestigious award in Colombian Year 2002. The council will represent the state in the international competition.

State Deputy Richie Head said the effort stood out among the nearly 125 projects submitted for consideration.

"It was a great team effort of caring and dedicated men who banded together for the purpose of helping others," said Head, who was impressed by the size and scope of the effort. "I believe it shows that the Knights are caring individuals and that doing community work extends beyond our own back yard."

The Knights partnered with the Appalachian Construction Crew, Inc., located at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb., to help continue their mission of building one home per year for the poorest families.

The council raised approximately $7,000 from donations. Fundraising events included a holiday concert for the parish and a garage sale that benefited multiple charitable activities run by the council. Corporate donations were received from Graybar Electric (one of the largest suppliers in the country) and Fishbach and Moore electrical contractors.

The council’s fundraising, coupled with that of the Nebraska crew, helped generate $25,000 to complete the 1,000-square-foot home. Total cost for the home included the subcontracting of the foundation work, septic system and interior finishing once the crew leaves. The finished home includes three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living area and a bathroom.

Good Shepherd Mission of Whitley City, Ky., selected the Ridner family to live in the house after they had been on a waiting list for six years. The family of four was living in a trailer and depending on assistance from family members to make ends meet.

In order to be eligible for the home, the mission requires that the family both owns the needed land and participates in the home construction. While paying for the materials is encouraged by the mission through sweat equity or small monthly payments, the home belongs to the family from day one with no strings attached. The home was built in McCreary County — one of the top 10 counties in the country for child poverty with over 60 percent of the children below the poverty level.

Five council members and one of the Knight's brothers (who was a member of a council in Valdosta, Ga.) participated in the construction effort. The Knights traveled from Burke to Whitley City, approximately 570 miles, to team up with the crew from Nebraska.

Housing for the entire crew was provided by the Christian Appalachian Project for a nominal fee. Volunteer cooks traveled with the crew to keep expenses down. Crew members took over a week of their vacation time away from their families to complete the home.

Heavy rains and a soggy work site presented challenges for the crew, which was fortunate to complete the home ahead of schedule in a total of six days. George Ziska, head foreman of the Omaha crew, said the Knights gave the crew a degree of discipline that allowed them to do the impossible every year in terms of crew efficiency.

The Knights provided the leadership on two of the three crews: the framing, roof trusses, roof sheathing and roofing crew, and the crew that built the porches and decks. In addition, the Knights provided the electrician to wire the house. The crew was at the job site at 6 a.m. everyday, after a 30-minute drive, and left around 5:30 p.m.

Even though the first half-day was lost to rain, they still managed to frame the front and back walls.

On Sunday, the Knights completed the side walls before leaving for Mass. All interior walls were completed before breaking late Sunday evening. On Monday, the roof trusses and sheathing were completed, and the porches and siding were started.

Half of the roof was completed on Tuesday. The front porch was framed, and half of the siding was completed. Windows and doors were installed.

On Wednesday, the interior electrical work was started while work continued on the roofing, siding and porches. Rain forced the Knights to stop work in the early afternoon.

On Thursday, the completed electrical work passed inspection and the siding, porches, roofing and insulation were finished. The house was blessed mid-afternoon of the same day.

The Ridner family was overwhelmed at the crew’s ability to complete the project in only six days. And finally, on Thursday evening, they accepted the keys to their new home.