ROCK VALLEY, Iowa (Iowa Media Wire) — Owning a home is a dream for just about everybody, and one Rock Valley family is a step closer to getting the keys to a brand new house.
Hand-decorated studs are up in Alex and Rebecca Arteaga’s three-bedroom home being built with Habitat for Humanity. Sponsors and community members on Wednesday night had a chance to meet the family and enjoy a meal while celebrating another construction milestone.
Organizations pay to sponsor a framing stud to decorate however they choose. The decorated boards are now part of the house, forever representing the community support for the family.
“There’s a lot of special messages on there. Bible verses, kids have spent a lot of time drawing,” Habitat for Humanity’s Sioux County Director Kurt Franje said. “This is a tangible way for the community to be able to show love and support the family.”
In all, 40 handcrafted studs are part of the Arteaga’s new home. Franje said this is the 13th home built buy habitat for Humanity in Sioux County and number 79 overall for Siouxland Habitat for Humanity.
“It feels really, really great to know our home is being built with love and blessings and God’s promise from the inside out,” Rebecca Arteaga said. “It’s just a really overwhelming experience. We’re looking forward to celebrating our own holidays here, having space for the kids to run outside, having a place to call home, a place to make memories, and all the good things that come with having your own home.”
With many hours of sweat equity already put into the home, Rebecca, Alex and their children will continue to help complete the construction. They look forward to moving in sometime before Thanksgiving.