Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/11/2013 (3104 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A mother of five children who has struggled to put a decent roof over their heads received an early Christmas gift Tuesday — the keys to a new home.
"Thank you to everyone who helped," she told Habitat For Humanity volunteers and sponsors inside her nearly finished home.
The house was built with help from students and staff at the University of Manitoba’s faculty of medicine and is wheelchair accessible to accommodate one of the woman’s children. She asked that their names and the location of the house not be identified for security reasons.
She contributed to the construction of her home, as did Gail Pollard, a second-year medical student. She worked on it in June when it was taking shape on a parking lot at the U of M Bannatyne Campus before being moved to its lot.
"I spent a lot of time putting up siding and framing doorways," said Pollard, 32, who learned a lot on the job. "I feel confident I could put up my own siding."
Dean of medicine Dr. Brian Postl said decent housing is important for a family’s health and well-being, and helping to build a good home for a family was a rewarding exercise.
Pollard said medical students are encouraged to take an active role in the community.
"I feel privileged to be a part of this."
Genworth Canada and RBC also contributed to building the new Habitat home.
