Family Stories

“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…