Members of the Knights of Columbus Father Sikora Council No. 7992 and Nativity Catholic Church completed their 25th home for those in need in Appalachia last month. In two weeks, a crew of 30 built a new home for the Creekmore family, who had been living in a dilapidated trailer.
Since 2001, Nativity has contributed to this effort and raised more than $1.1 million, partnering with the Appalachian Construction Crew Inc., a Christian nonprofit organization located in Bellevue, Neb., to provide housing in impoverished McCreary County, Ky.
Good Shepherd Chapel in Whitley City, Ky., selected the Creekmore family, whose trailer had significant mold, leaks and electrical issues. The only requirements are that the family own the land and demonstrate to the selecting committee that they can maintain the home and cover insurance costs. The family is not allowed to sell the home for 10 years.
The entire crew was one of the largest to date with 21 from the Knights council at Nativity and nine from Nebraska, Colorado and Mississippi.
Nativity donated more than $120,000 for the home, as well as a trailer full of household items including food, clothing, school supplies, bedding and items for every room of the new home. Nativity also provided new beds for every member of the family.
Over two weeks, the crew built a 1,100 -square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bath, home complete with all new appliances, septic system and heat pump for energy efficiency. The crew worked with local contractors for HVAC, plumbing, septic system and electrical.
The house was blessed on day six by Father Gary Simpson, a visiting priest from Somerset, Ky., and the crew presented the keys to the family.
The first crew departed and the finishing crew took over to complete the drywall finishing, painting, hanging doors, trimming and installation of kitchen cabinets. The inspections were completed in June, with plans for the family to move in this month.
