Androscoggin Habitat dedicates 14th house.

    LEWISTON – About 60 people gathered Dec. 8 at a new house at 144 Golder Road, to celebrate completion of a big job -- the 14th house built by Androscoggin Habitat for Humanity since its beginning in 1989.

    President Sunni Junkins led a ceremony that recognized the efforts of volunteers, contractors, students, and several business firms that donated goods or services to the effort. The president called the four-bedroom house “a monument to cooperation -- the way that a group of people, whose lives are connected only by a desire to serve their fellow man, worked together to raise a house from a vacant lot.”

    She said the house also is a monument to community spirit. “It demonstrates how people in the Androscoggin Valley can join together to help one of their own -- a relatively new family originally from far-away Africa -- meet an overwhelming need.”
She continued: “People have taken part in community efforts that have raised money for construction of a special house, specially built to meet the special needs of a special four-year-old boy. This boy requires round-the-clock care and extraordinary medical attention. Look at the ramp outside the door, the special cupboards, and the big doors accessible to a wheelchair.”

    The new homeowners are Ibrahim A. Ghaleb and his wife Nimo O. Jama, of Lewiston, who were chosen by a selection committee from among more than 60 applicants. The family includes a daughter and three sons, one of whom is severely handicapped.

    Lewiston Mayor Laurent F. Gilbert Sr. told the new homeowners: “On behalf of the City of Lewiston, I am excited for you today. I hope that this house will make a big change in your lives.” The mayor congratulated Androscoggin Habitat and the volunteers for completing the project and they can be “extremely proud” of what has been accomplished.

    Allen Sterling, an Androscoggin Habitat board member who heads the Building Committee, expressed thanks to firms that donated construction services and materials or provided them at low cost, including Hancock Lumber Co., Inc. and Pineland Lumber Co. He also praised Mayor Gilbert; the carpentry and electrical shop students at Greater Lewiston Regional Technical Center, who helped install wiring, siding and roofing; David Hooter, a neighbor on Golder Avenue who built the chimney; Paul Belisle, who installed plumbing and heating; and Dan Lagrange, a board member who lined up volunteers to work on the project.

    Members of the Church Mice Quilters, who presented hand-made quilts for each member of the Ghaleb-Jama family. The group meets weekly at Thomas Memorial Baptist Church in Lewiston and has contributed quilts to families occupying the past seven Androscoggin Habitat for Humanity houses.

    David Gilpatric, representing West Minot Gange #42, gave the family a construction scrapbook and photo album.

    Tara Allain, a senior at Colby College in Waterville, who is Miss Maine 2007 and will compete next month for the title of Miss America, welcomed the family, noting that she has worked on several Habitat for Humanity projects, and thanked the volunteers. “People like you have made this possible,” she said.

    Volunteers have been working since May to build the house. Androscoggin Habitat is giving the family an interest-free mortgage for the property and the family has participated in the construction. Money to cover construction costs came from special projects such as a golf tournament, and donations from individuals and business firms in the community.

– Russ Burbank