Atonement Lutheran Church

(Pictured left to right: Shele Fleming, Kathy Klaustermeier, and Pat Kinney)

Atonement Lutheran Church in St. Cloud has been an extraordinary partner for us at Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity. We can always count on them to be out on the build sites doing construction, advocating at their mission fairs for people interested in helping their community and even for monetary donations since Habitat is included in their annual budget. We are so thankful for Atonement and the good works they do and we look forward to many years of a prosperous partnership with them.

                Speaking of volunteers, Atonement sent out Kathy, Pat and Shele to help with painting on 11^th Avenue Southeast and we got a chance to have a wonderful conversation with them. They first got involved with Habitat through Atonement and other volunteers urged them to join them. They admitted that at first they didn't know much about the details of Habitat but always wanted to volunteer. While working on the site, they found the answers to their questions such as homeownership qualifications and how each partner family pays for their home though a low interest mortgage and sweat equity. Kathy, Pat, and Shele also said that they never got the chance to work along side of a partner family, but are looking forward to the day. We hope they can make it to the dedication!           

                Pat told us a story of how when she was young, her mother was widowed and was never able to experience the joy of homeownership. "I couldn't imagine how different life would be if Habitat existed then," she said. "My mother never knew what it was like to own her own home." Pat's story touched us and even though we may not be able to help her mother, we can push forward and help many other families in need.