BY NED ABRAMSON
Enquirer Contributor
LOVELAND -- Terri Kidd and her children understand the value of tenacity and teamwork.
Those things -- plus the support of family and friends -- have propelled Ms. Kidd's family from a cramped mobile home to a brand-new house here, the city's first built under the auspices of Habitat for Humanity. The three-bedroom home, on Maple Avenue just off the bike path along the Little Miami River, will be dedicated at 3 p.m. today. The Kidds plan to move in later this month.
The dedication marks the eighth house in Clermont County to be completed by Habitat, a national volunteer organization founded in 1979 to provide interest-free new housing.
Ms. Kidd and her children, Caitlin, 3, Sara, 13, and Daron, 15, "are just extremely excited," Ms. Kidd said. "It seems like it has taken a while, but it will be well worth the wait. I really appreciate all of the volunteers and help that made it possible."
Construction started in July1997 with a volunteer force ranging from a few to 25 people working every Saturday on the house.
Habitat homeowners are required to put in a minimum of 500 hours of "sweat equity;" Ms. Kidd estimates that her work time, along with time offered by friends, co-workers from Bethesda Oak Hospital where she is a scheduling coordinator, and relatives at least doubled that total.
Clermont Habitat has a list of more than 100 people waiting for houses.
How to help
Anyone interested in working with Clermont Habitat can contact Marilyn Bowers at 831-0747 or the Clermont office, 831-0272. Public is invited to meet the Kidd family and Habitat personnel at today's dedication.
