When Mandy Champion’s 4-year-old daughter, Cam, rang the doorbell of their new home on Sunday, it was official. They were homeowners.

The Champion home is the sixth project completed by the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate. From mid-May until September, volunteers worked tirelessly every Saturday to bring the project to completion.

“Do you feel blessed?” Sarah McPherson, owner of the first Habitat home in Chilton County, asked Champion after the dedication of her home this past Sunday. “I feel blessed to be a Habitat homeowner.”

Habitat president Jane Conradi welcomed the crowd, which consisted of volunteers, Habitat Board members, family, friends and community members. Then Construction chairman Leo Cramer presented Mandy with a nail cross made from the same type of nails used in the home’s foundation.

Pastor Larry Anderson of Clanton First United Methodist Church gave the blessing for the family and home, and Becki McCallum presented a family Bible and scrapbook on behalf of the church.

Finally, it was time to present the family with the key to their new home. After the door was opened, everyone in attendance toured the home.

Champion thanked all who volunteered their time and efforts.

“The churches in our community have meant so much to us,” Conradi said. “They have provided a host of volunteers and have brought much encouragement to this family. We can’t say enough about how much it means.”

– Scott Mims can be reached at scott.mims@clantonadvertiser.com