MUSCATINE, Iowa — The new house at 2112 Wallace St. in Muscatine is a dream come true for Valeri Stafford and her four children.

“This has given my family and I an opportunity for something we couldn’t have before: our own home,” said Valeri, 37, as she and her family hosted more than 50 well-wishers Sunday afternoon at a dedication ceremony for the new house.

Many of the visitors helped build the house, the seventh one completed by the  local Habitat for Humanity, and Valeri worked right alongside them.

“I’m going to miss seeing my friends,” she said during the ceremony, which included performances by the Muscatine Children’s Choir, directed by Ric Smith, and a series of prayers to bless the house.

Habitat for Humanity members presented Valeri with a Bible and new house keys.

Valeri, who works in  customer service at Bridgestone Bandag Tire Solutions, received an interest-free mortgage for the home.

“We call this a hand up, not a hand out,” said Don Lampe, president of Habitat for Humanity.

A stack of colorful, boards throughout the house were decorated with phrases such as “Bless this house with lots of love,” and “Boards make a house. Love makes a home.”

“These were painted by the students at Colorado Elementary School,” said Valeri. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

Valeri plans to mount the custom-made plaques on the wall of her children’s game room. Valeri’s children are Cassie, 18, a Muscatine Community College student; Ian 12, who attends Central Middle School; Zoie, 10, of Grant Elementary School and Brooke, 2.

“I just want to keep building,” said Valeri. “I will be part of the crew that builds the next house.”

According to Habitat for Humanity, families in need of decent shelter apply to local Habitat affiliates such as the one in Muscatine.

Families are chosen to become homeowners based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan.

Detaiils

Online: Learn more about Habitat for Humanity at  http://www.habitat.org/

Since its founding in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat for Humanity International has built and rehabilitated more than 300,000 houses with partner families, helping house more than 1.5 million people.

Contact Muscatine Habitat for Humanity at  263-7382