BETHEL, Vt. -
For nearly ten years, a small group of Habitat For Humanity volunteers have been building homes for people in need all across the Northeast. But until today, it's never been for a fellow Vermonter.
The group travels all over every year but this year, they decided to stay right here in Vermont to help victims recover from Tropical Storm Irene. They say being local has made this build a little extra special.
Tucked away, down a long dirt road in Bethel Vermont stood a home filled with memories. Nearly ten months ago, that home and all of its belongings were swallowed by the wrath of Tropical Storm Irene. Sunday painted a much different picture. Smiles, sunshine and screwdrivers surrounded what will be the new home.
"It's a miracle, I mean it's just really emotional, we thank everybody and are really grateful and blessed to have this happen," Irene victim, April Tabor said.
Tabor's mom Karen had been living on the property for two years, and now with all of the hard working hands on deck, she'll get to move back in. "I don't think we could have found a better fit," Volunteer, Bob Clavelle said.
This group of Habitat For Humanity volunteers are all members of St. Anthony's Church in White River Junction. In the past nine years, they've built homes all across the Northeast for complete strangers, but this year, it's a bit more personal. It'll be the first Habitat For Humanity home that's built so close to home.
"It's good to give back to the community that's supported our trips for so many years," Volunteer, Jackie Pierce said. "We all love to build, but that's not the reason," Clavelle said.
The reason is much deeper.
"It's such an accomplishment when you're done and you just know as you're doing it, you know that you're really helping someone have their home again," Pierce added.
The demolition of the home happened less than one week ago, construction started Saturday and now in just four days, the entire exterior is expected to be complete.
And everyone seems to have found their speciality. "I like hammering the house", Evan Tabor said. "I love roofing," Pierce said. "Everything, yea... it's a pretty cool project," Clavelle said.
So even though Irene took almost everything, she didn't take the family's hope or the desire to rebuild.
The new home will be energy efficient and will sit three feet higher than the old home, just in case mother nature is to ever strike again.
