THUNDER BAY — Shelley Laughton's eyes welled up before she could explain how much she and her daughter appreciated being selected for a Habitat for Humanity home build.
The single mom and her visually-impaired 9-year old, Donna Lynn, were on hand Monday for the groundbreaking ceremony for Habitat Thunder Bay's 2018 house build on McPherson Street.
When she realized that her mother was overcome with emotion, Donna Lynn spoke up for both of them.
"It is a very big process to be able to get this house, and it is very exciting. It's a very nice thing that's happening," the girl told a TBT News reporter.
Shelley Laughton then added that the pair is grateful to have been chosen. "Without Habitat, we wouldn't be able to build a brand new home. We're very thankful for that."
Randy Moore, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay, said the house will provide "safe and decent" accommodation for the family, especially for the young girl.
"We're going to be able to provide a fenced-in back yard, which will provide safety and security, and allow her to invite friends over for the first time in her life. She's never really been able to do that because of the housing situation that they've been in," Moore said.
He pointed out that Habitat projects help not only families, but the community of Thunder Bay as a whole.
A client, Moore said, "becomes a homeowner and a taxpayer. We build on a lot that doesn't have anything on it, and we then we provide the city with additional tax revenue. It really gives a family the hand up that they need, and sometimes it's just too difficult to reach on their own."
The Laughtons should be able to move into their new house by Thanksgiving.
The McPherson Street project is Habitat's 31st house build in Thunder Bay.
