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ISP plays key role in new Habitat home
Steve Dunn/MVM News Network
KEOKUK - There was plenty to celebrate at 1101 Palean St. in Keokuk Friday afternoon.
Not only did the occasion mark the completion of a Habitat for Humanity House for a couple and their son, but the fruits of a partnership with prisoners were also evident.
“It's overwhelming at this moment,” said Tali Kay, who grew up only a couple of blocks from her new house. “If it wasn't for them (prisoners), it wouldn't be presentable.”
Kay, her husband, Jack, and son, Micah, are the latest in Keokuk to benefit from the international program started in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller of Americus, Ga.
Construction took only 3 1/2 months after ground was broken in late March.
“We wanted to do it in two months,” said Darrell Rodger of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Even outside prison officials were impressed with the partnership with the local Habitat for Humanity group.
“This is by far the best prison partnership I've ever been involved with,” said Jack Nogarrd of Red Wing, Minn., founder of the Iowa Prisoner Partner Program. “The prisoners do a fantastic job.”
Speaking to the six prisoners directly, Nogarrd said, “You're a part of the thousands of men and women who have built a house for Habitat.”
The prisoners from the minimum security Prison Farm 3 included John Kerr of Muscatine, Stan Curry of Des Moines, Corey Courtney of Oskaloosa, Rod Kaesser of Boone, Mike Hannam of Ottumwa and Ken Walte of Des Moines.
The walls and cabinets for the 1,288-square-foot house were built by prisoners inside the maximum security Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. After holes were drilled for the electrical outlets and headers were installed for the windows the walls were trucked to the building site at 11th and Palean streets.
The prisoners from Prison Farm 3 then erected the walls, put up trusses and made the shell weather tight. They also helped put on dry wall and set the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
The three bedroom, one bathroom house has a few features not found in other Habitat for Humanity houses in Keokuk such as an eight-foot-high basement and an island in the kitchen. The kitchen, dining room and living room have laminate flooring.
In fact, Tali likes the open kitchen and living room area the most.
In one of the more emotional moments during the open house, Rodger presented a personalized study Bible to the Kays, asking them to spend five minutes a day reading the scriptures.
Each of the six prisoners was given a can of 7Up. They were told they would be prayed for seven minutes a day seven days a week for seven weeks.
The Kays' new house is dedicated to Beth Conn, a Habitat for Humanity board member who died Feb. 14. Conn's husband Bob and daughter Kayla were on hand to accept a plaque.
Dan Eberhardt of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in Burlington noted that the Kays' new house was the last of four built under a special program with the City of Keokuk. The city got a $90,000 grant which helped pay to demolish four dilapidated structures. Once the debris was removed, the vacant properties were turned over to Habitat for Humanity to make home ownership a reality for four families.
Eberhardt applauded the local group's efforts, saying, “There's nothing like it in southeast Iowa. It's making a profound impact on the community.”
Another grant has been awarded to build two more Habitat for Humanity houses, Eberhardt added.
In the end the prisoners expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to improve the lives of others.
“It's a blessing to come down here and work for all the right reasons,” said Kerr, who has helped build two other Habitat houses.
Kerr has 23 years of experience in the building trades.
“I can guarantee you this. When I get out (of prison) I'll build at least one Habitat house in Des Moines,” said Curry, a carpenter by trade. “The best part was seeing the happiness we gave back to society. I'm on cloud nine. This is a beautiful program. I wish I could do more of it. It's great to see what these people have now.”
Courtney said, “I learned giving is a lot better than taking. And I learned a lot of skills I can use when I get out.”
Kaesser - another first-time Habitat house builder - said, “I got to meet a lot of good people and help the community. It made me feel good to come here every day and help the people. There is a good chance now I'll get paroled in November. If they start on another house before then I'd like to help. This definitely renews my faith in people.”
A union sheet metal worker by trade, Kaesser said he learned a little while sharing his knowledge during the construction of the Kays' house.
Pastor Ronnie McLain, ISP Associate Warden of Security Debbie Nichols, ISP Program Planners Bryan Koechle and Mike Peters, Jim Hopkins of Habitat for Humanity and Marcia Rodger, chairman of the Keokuk Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, also participated in the open house Friday.
KEOKUK - There was plenty to celebrate at 1101 Palean St. in Keokuk Friday afternoon.
Not only did the occasion mark the completion of a Habitat for Humanity House for a couple and their son, but the fruits of a partnership with prisoners were also evident.
“It's overwhelming at this moment,” said Tali Kay, who grew up only a couple of blocks from her new house. “If it wasn't for them (prisoners), it wouldn't be presentable.”
Kay, her husband, Jack, and son, Micah, are the latest in Keokuk to benefit from the international program started in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller of Americus, Ga.
Construction took only 3 1/2 months after ground was broken in late March.
“We wanted to do it in two months,” said Darrell Rodger of the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.
Even outside prison officials were impressed with the partnership with the local Habitat for Humanity group.
“This is by far the best prison partnership I've ever been involved with,” said Jack Nogarrd of Red Wing, Minn., founder of the Iowa Prisoner Partner Program. “The prisoners do a fantastic job.”
Speaking to the six prisoners directly, Nogarrd said, “You're a part of the thousands of men and women who have built a house for Habitat.”
The prisoners from the minimum security Prison Farm 3 included John Kerr of Muscatine, Stan Curry of Des Moines, Corey Courtney of Oskaloosa, Rod Kaesser of Boone, Mike Hannam of Ottumwa and Ken Walte of Des Moines.
The walls and cabinets for the 1,288-square-foot house were built by prisoners inside the maximum security Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison. After holes were drilled for the electrical outlets and headers were installed for the windows the walls were trucked to the building site at 11th and Palean streets.
The prisoners from Prison Farm 3 then erected the walls, put up trusses and made the shell weather tight. They also helped put on dry wall and set the kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
The three bedroom, one bathroom house has a few features not found in other Habitat for Humanity houses in Keokuk such as an eight-foot-high basement and an island in the kitchen. The kitchen, dining room and living room have laminate flooring.
In fact, Tali likes the open kitchen and living room area the most.
In one of the more emotional moments during the open house, Rodger presented a personalized study Bible to the Kays, asking them to spend five minutes a day reading the scriptures.
Each of the six prisoners was given a can of 7Up. They were told they would be prayed for seven minutes a day seven days a week for seven weeks.
The Kays' new house is dedicated to Beth Conn, a Habitat for Humanity board member who died Feb. 14. Conn's husband Bob and daughter Kayla were on hand to accept a plaque.
Dan Eberhardt of the Southeast Iowa Regional Planning Commission in Burlington noted that the Kays' new house was the last of four built under a special program with the City of Keokuk. The city got a $90,000 grant which helped pay to demolish four dilapidated structures. Once the debris was removed, the vacant properties were turned over to Habitat for Humanity to make home ownership a reality for four families.
Eberhardt applauded the local group's efforts, saying, “There's nothing like it in southeast Iowa. It's making a profound impact on the community.”
Another grant has been awarded to build two more Habitat for Humanity houses, Eberhardt added.
In the end the prisoners expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to improve the lives of others.
“It's a blessing to come down here and work for all the right reasons,” said Kerr, who has helped build two other Habitat houses.
Kerr has 23 years of experience in the building trades.
“I can guarantee you this. When I get out (of prison) I'll build at least one Habitat house in Des Moines,” said Curry, a carpenter by trade. “The best part was seeing the happiness we gave back to society. I'm on cloud nine. This is a beautiful program. I wish I could do more of it. It's great to see what these people have now.”
Courtney said, “I learned giving is a lot better than taking. And I learned a lot of skills I can use when I get out.”
Kaesser - another first-time Habitat house builder - said, “I got to meet a lot of good people and help the community. It made me feel good to come here every day and help the people. There is a good chance now I'll get paroled in November. If they start on another house before then I'd like to help. This definitely renews my faith in people.”
A union sheet metal worker by trade, Kaesser said he learned a little while sharing his knowledge during the construction of the Kays' house.
Pastor Ronnie McLain, ISP Associate Warden of Security Debbie Nichols, ISP Program Planners Bryan Koechle and Mike Peters, Jim Hopkins of Habitat for Humanity and Marcia Rodger, chairman of the Keokuk Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, also participated in the open house Friday.
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