As the walls went up, so did Melissa Brown’s spirits.
She wore a perpetual smile and seemed almost in a daze as she watched the framework of a dream start coming together Saturday.
“Wow,” she said, staring at the wooden skeleton of new construction.
“This is so cool.”
Brown, a 33-year-old single mother of two young children, has never owned a home before.
Yet by the end of the year, she and her children will be moving into their new house in Oak Harbor built by Habitat for Humanity of Island County and its mostly volunteer workforce.
The three-bedroom residence is one of four Habitat for Humanity homes being built on Lateen Street.
What makes the Brown project unique is that an Oak Harbor company has essentially adopted the family.
IDEX Health & Science is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Island County on the home project.
IDEX donated $10,000 toward home construction and its employees are donating some of their time to help with the build.
It’s the first time Habitat for Humanity of Island County has formed a home partnership with a business in the community.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with IDEX this year,” said Sadi Foltz, development director for Habitat for Humanity of Island County.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for them to get invested in a Habitat program and family. They’re going to be there every step of the way.”
Already a major contributor to Relay for Life of Whidbey Island every year, IDEX employees wanted to also help other causes in the community, said Andrea Rivers, the company’s customer service manager.
Habitat for Humanity seemed to be an ideal fit, she said.
“We have employees who have benefitted from this program at some point in their lives,” Rivers said.
“Those of us who have worked for IDEX for a long time feel like family, and those who are new to IDEX, we want them to feel like they are part of the family.
“What better way than building a home together.”
IDEX, which is based in Chicago, has been in business for more than 30 years on Whidbey Island. Located on Oak Street, the company is a manufacturer of highly engineered fluidic systems and components.
David Hendrix, a maintenance worker, was one of seven IDEX employees who helped with framing the new home Saturday.
“I think it’s an awesome charity that gets the community together,” Hendrix said. “It also helps people figure out what IDEX is.”
IDEX employees will be out at least two more weekends to participate.
“It was neat seeing Melissa be so excited when the first wall went up,” Rivers said.
About 80 percent of the work done on Habitat for Humanity homes is through volunteer labor, Foltz said.
This keeps costs down significantly and allows the homeowner to take on an affordable mortgage payment.
Orin Kolaitis, Habitat for Humanity’s construction manager, led the framing project Saturday with IDEX employees and other volunteers.
Brown also helped in any way she could as did others in the neighborhood who benefitted from Habitat for Humanity.
“I feel truly blessed,” said Brown, who works for the Opportunity Council.
“To be able to no longer rent and actually have roots, it’s satisfying. To have stability feels like I’m being a great mom to provide that for my children.”
