The Selma Times-Journal

The Rand Family of Selma now have a place to call home.

Just before Thanksgiving, Willie and Janice Rand and their five children &045; 15-year-old twins Edrina and Edrika, 14-year-old Eula, 7-year-old Willie Jr. and 4-year-old Aliah &045; moved into their new home in Faith Park built with Selma Habitat for Humanity.

A project six months in the making, Selma Habitat broke ground on the Rand home in May &045; the organization’s 41st home construction, the 27th home construction in the Faith Park neighborhood.

Selma High School Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops and the Dallas County juvenile probation office were among the volunteers who spent Saturdays sheetrocking and painting under the guidance of contractor James “Chicago” Hudson, said Selma Habitat Executive Director Nina Capps.

Capps said the Rand home was the only home construction project of the year, adding Selma Habitat strives to build two homes per year at a cost of $120,000. Capps and Selma Habitat Board Vice President Tracy Hardy said fundraising efforts are essential for the organization’s livelihood. Hardy mailed 1,100 flyers last week to Selma and Dallas County residents in an effort to raise enough funds to build two homes in 2007. Selma Habitat is currently planning three fundraisers for the New Year and reviewing prospective applicants.

“I hope people will be generous and donate to us for Christmas,” Hardy said.

“We want to make Selma better and we want to take care of our own too,” said Capps.

Willie Rand said his family is eternally grateful to Selma Habitat, Church Street United Methodist Church and God for providing the ultimate Christmas gift. An open house and dedication ceremony will take place at the Rand home on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m to celebrate the family’s move-in.

“We hope that Habitat for Humanity can continue to make somebody happy and build homes for families that need it … for a better Selma,” Willie said.