by Alan Hodge

“Me casa es su casa. My house is your house.”

When Martin Escalona of Cornelius and his family were handed the keys to their new Habitat for Humanity house at 18023 Lynn Lane on Sunday, May 8, those were his first words to the crowd of volunteers who showed up at the official ribbon cutting.

A native of Mexico City, Martin will be joined by his wife, Adriana, and daughters, Andrea and Mathilde, when they move into the neat bungalow in about four weeks.

“I give many, many thanks to the special way the Lord has helped me and my family,” Escalona said. “Thank you to everybody, the schools, Habitat, everybody.”

Adriana Escalona let a sign she had placed on the door do her talking. “God bless you all, I hope He fills you with riches and goods” it read.

Our Town Habitat for Humanity board of directors member Amy Hartman gave the dedication speech.

“We are here to celebrate God’s work,” Hartman said. “A safe and affordable home.”

Saturday’s ribbon cutting also saw the Escalona family presented with a Bible, as well as a framed photo of their new home signed by the volunteers who made it possible.

Earlier this year, the house where the Escalonas will live was a vacant lot, but with the help of Our Town Habitat for Humanity and Davidson College Youth United volunteers, the home was completed in record time. The Escalonas chipped in 300 hours of work as well.

Several construction and home improvement firms also contributed time and materials to the Lynn Lane project.

In addition to Davison College, fundraising by students at North Mecklenburg, Lake Norman High, Hough High, and Pine Lake Preparatory schools also made the build possible.

Habitat for Humanity will dedicate two more homes soon on Lynn Lane. According to Hartman, every eight minutes a Habitat for Humanity house is completed somewhere in the world. Since 1988, the local Our Town Habitat organization has completed over 200 houses.