Habitat for Humanity House Becomes a Home

On the warm, but breezy day of March 19, the Liggerio family stood on the porch of their new house, watching in amazement as a throng of people filed in and out.

Josh, Christina, daughter Hailey, 9, and son Keagan, 6, celebrated the completion of their Wareham Road home with a flock of well-wishers and volunteers from the Buzzard’s Bay chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Buzzard’s Bay Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Christine Lacourse explained that the Buzzard’s Bay division, which is based in Mattapoisett and has been in operation since 1996, has built nine homes – but this was the first home built in Marion.

Buzzard’s Bay Habitat for Humanity board members Jack and Sandy Beck were honored at the ceremony for their hard work. The two are founding members of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter, and Lacourse stated that they were instrumental in the division’s success. Lacourse announced that the house would be named “The Beck Home” in the couple’s honor.

Representative Bill Straus was also present for the unveiling, and he recalled this time last year when the property was “just a New England bramble thicket.” He spoke of the importance of Habitat for Humanity.

“This provides benefits to those in need – shelter, a roof over their heads – but it also provides secret benefits to the wider community,” Straus said. “It provides a way for everyone to contribute and help.”

Local businesses agreed with him. Local architect Will Saltonstall designed the house, which is a 1,000 square-foot, three-bedroom design.

“There’s a reason this house looks so snazzy,” Beck explained with a laugh. Students of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School drafted the plans. Inside the airy, light-filled house, all of the furniture was donated by a regional furniture store.

Marion painter George Keegan painted the house.

“It’s one thing painting, but another thing to paint a house with a bunch of volunteers!” Beck joked. “But he told me he had a good time.”

Thank-yous to over three-dozen local businesses and several local volunteers were posted throughout the house.

The chosen recipients of a Habitat for Humanity house are required to donate 300 hours of “sweat equity” to the building project, and Josh and Christina were enthusiastic about the entire process.

“I loved working with everyone and meeting everyone new. I just loved the experience,” Christina said.

Keagan and Hailey put time in as well. Christina explained that they would play a game where they received a penny for each nail they picked up.

“I probably still owe them about a hundred pennies,” she laughed.

The entire family has big plans for their new house.

“I’m going to jump on my bed every day,” crowed Keagan cheerfully from his perch on the balcony railing. His father replied, “Actually, they’ve already jumped on the beds.”

But Christina had something a little different in mind. As the cameras clicked, she said, “I’m used to being on the other side of the camera!” An avid shutterbug, she said with a smile, “I’ve been waiting a very long time to hang my photos.”

By Andrea Ray

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