Habitat for Humanity House becomes a home

By Bella McCarey
Co-Editor-in-Chief

In a closing ceremony in honor of the homeowner Ashley Moffitt and her daughter Shaelynn, the year long Habitat for Humanity project came to a conclusion on Mar. 23.

The school district has been heavily involved and invested in this project for the last 12 months and that dedication was well represented at the ceremony. 

With an estimated attendance of over 500 district and community members, the night began with the students from the District Choir singing “Voices of Pride”, a song composed for the Red Lion Area School District and the inspiration for the song comes from Red Lion’s longstanding ability to join together to change the community for the better. The Habitat for Humanity house is sound structural evidence of this comradery.

Some of the lyrics of the piece include: “If your world is shaken and torn apart, a helping hand is not so far away. We can make a house, a home. A shelter away from the storm and see you through another day.”

Ringing true to the Habitat build, it’s laid the foundation for Red Lion to achieve more in the future, possibly even another project. 

“Who knows, we might do another one,” Assistant Principal and leader of the RLASD Build Planning Team Mr. Grant 

Gouker. “You don’t realize it’s [the opportunity] out there, people building people houses. It’s amazing how it all comes together.”

The rest of the night was “tearful, happy tears of course” commented Gouker. Rev. Dr. Brad Dayett lead the audience in an opening prayer and benediction. 

“It was an overall simple presentation and dedication,” Gouker said.     

“There was a formal ribbon cutting, the minister blessed the home, and they had special keys made.” 

Included in the presentation of the house was a slide show put together by Mr. Keith Blackwell and some of his students showcasing the project from start to finish with a compilation of pictures and numbers showing what materials and manpower went into building the home.

From the first piece of trash picked up off the yard to the first nailed hammer into the walls to the last drop of wet paint on the walls, the Moffitt family was able to see their new home start to finish. 

Dr. Scott Deisley, whose dream was to partake in a Habitat for Humanity project since coming to the district, made a speech and presented the family with gifts on behalf of himself and the district. Included was $100 towards the school store so “they could get rid of that Rocket Clothing,” referring to the fact Shaelynn Moffitt will be transferring from Spring Grove School District to Red Lion next year.

The second gift was $1000 to Target so they can buy the things they need to truly make it feel like a home. 

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Gouker said. “It’s not 100 percent. There’s still a lot of landscaping to be done, the FFA kids are in charge of that once it’s warmer outside.”

One of the most memorable moments of the night was the unveiling of the plaque nailed to the concrete in front of the house that reads “York Habitat home built in partnership with Red Lion Area School District.”

“It’s nothing big,” Gouker said. “It’s just something that says we’ll always be a part of you, like a cornerstone.”

While the settlement of the home takes place April 1, the Moffitt family won’t officially move in until this summer. 

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