News & Events

“We can’t wait to stay in our “forever” home and not have to move from place to place” As a parent, we dream we can give our children a better life than yourself and Lisa Dubray is no different. Her dream to give her children a stable platform of a stable home, has been a…

Andy, Marshall and Harley Fry are partnering with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity to build STABILITY, SECURITY AND SELF-RELIANCE. Harley Fry’s words above are really simple on the surface but goes to the heart of what matters to him. Any 10-year-old boy wants…and should have…access to privacy and space to grow. Every parent wants…and deserves…to…

Travis and Mary Svoboda are partnering with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity to build STABILITY, SECURITY AND SELF-RELIANCE. They are anxious to have bedrooms for everyone, to have a place for all to sleep, to be warm and safe. Travis & Mary know how to get-by. They’ve managed to raise 6 children including 4 adopted…

Jeremy and Breanna are partnering with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity to build STABILITY, SCEURITY AND SELF-RELIANCE. “The Journey of Hope, never give up, it will get better” -The Engholm family Their new home on Timbers Drive in Park Rapids will be the beginning of a new chapter for the Jeremy and Breanna Engholm family.…

Dale and Katie Johnson are partnering with Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity to build SAFETY, SECURITY AND SELF-RELIANCE. “We now have hope and are looking forward to our future as Habitat for Humanity homeowners.” Like any good parents, Dale and Katie want their son to be happy and safe. The Brainerd couple and their 17-year…

“We want to spend more time with mom!” Those are words every single parent understands…and struggles to find ways to make a reality. That certainly is the case for Tiffany who is raising 5 very active children, ranging in ages from 1 to 15. Tiffany’s life has been a journey through challenges.  She tells of…

“We want to stop the cycle of dysfunction from our childhood and give our children a better life” Dysfunction, drugs and alcohol, not the desired environment to live out your childhood. Unfortunately, that was the case for Chad and Renee. Raising 7 kids is no easy task and Chad and Renee are working hard to…

“To finally have a place we can call Home” Oppression, anxiety, depression and not enough resources are challenges in Josh and Breanna face every day. Josh and Breanna knew each other and were friends during high school.  They graduated and they both went their separate ways. Little did they know that once again, their paths…

Deb and Brady Kowalzek “We can’t wait to not have standing water in our house when it rains” Such a simple wish, however for Deb and her son Brady, this is the reality they live in. Deb spent most of her life caring for others. A few years ago, Deb and her youngest son Brady…

“Keep trying, don’t quit, don’t give up, keep fighting” These are the words that Brian and Mandy live by and are teaching their children (ages 13, 9, 6 and 3). Brian and Mandy met when they were in recovery.  They had a good life and things were going well at least for a while. However,…

A tragedy transformed into a full circle blessing! Discouragement, uncertainty, despair, places and emotions we may all have experienced but for many this hopelessness clouds their vision to ever see any open door to improve their life. Dennis joined the military shortly after high school. Dennis had many dreams, but life handed him some challenges…

“I just want wider hallways & doors” That’s a pretty simple response to the question of what’s needed to serve the Kemp family in their Habitat home. Paul’s in a wheelchair and he wants to be able to move down the hallway without scraping his hands on the walls; he wants to be able to get into…

“I will have my own bedroom!” April Bower and her two girls, Erika and Courtney are ready and eager to build their Habitat home this year. All three are currently living with April’s dad who has generously opened his home to them but is ready for his space to be his own. When asked what this build…

Ray Lindberg, “Papa Ray” “I can’t wait to have warm feet!” That’s a pretty simple request from a pretty amazing man. Ray Lindberg, or “Papa Ray” as he’s known by his 12 grandchildren, is so eager to move out of his cold, drafty trailer home and into a new Habitat for Humanity home with a heated…

Meet Rachelle and her two boys, Logan (10) and Dean (8).  This family will be the new homeowners of a Habitat for Humanity home bought back from a previous partner family. For Rachelle and her boys, having a safe and affordable place to live will be life changing. Rachelle says “Thank you for this once…

By Kendra Crandall “My name is Kendra Crandall and I have 5 children: Adrianna (11), Lilianna (9), Nayanna (7), Frederick Jr (5), and Eveanna Littlewolf (1). I work at the hospital as a Certified Nursing Assistant.  It’s hard being the only parent providing for my children.  I have tried for many years to make things work…

By Sheena Zielger In 2007, James and I began dating.  Three years later, we welcomed our first son—Hayden James—into the world. Our lives were perfect. In October of 2011, we found out we were going to have another baby, and we were very excited. That December, we had our first ultrasound.  This was the day…

By Christina Johnson “Rick and I have been married for seven years.  We have two beautiful children: our 10-year old, Alexis, and Kendrick, who was born last December. We currently live in the old trailer home I grew up in.  It’s two bedrooms, and is literally falling apart.  The back door is caved in, we…

We are ready to build, Are you?  The foundation has been laid and construction is scheduled to begin Novmber 7th!  Go to the link below to sign up! https://www.giveffect.com/campaigns/2866-pequot-lakes-build-ramirez Can you help us complete the funding for this home?  Follow this link to build hope and a place for the Ramirez family to call home!…

Travis Pietz has recently become a single father of two young children (Emma who is 4, Nicholas who is 5). He found himself homeless after the mother of his children intentionally burned down their home. Travis has full custody of his children and is currently living with his grandparents, Chuck and Joanne  Martin. Chuck and Joanne are…

Joleen and her three children Zacharay, Keiauna, and Karter’s home was our 101st home built in honor of Sister Vivian Arts, one of the founders of Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity.  Joleen is a hard working member of the Brainerd community, currently working two jobs to make ends meet.   She and her children were living…

Heather Aanes and her two daughters’ Habitat for Humanity home was the 100th home built in memory of Paul Mans, one of the founders of Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity.  Just one year ago, Heather’s MS progressed. In such a short time she went from walking to now being confined to a wheelchair. Though Heather…

Together, Amber and Jake have 6 children: (Not pictured:  Samantha, Keegan ) Chloe, Rory, Remy, and Baby Elijah.  Amber and Jake’s cousin was addicted to drugs.  At 7 months pregnant, she realized she could not take care of her baby and asked Amber and Jake if they would take him and raise him.  Without hesitation,…