A New Home For James And Lindsay Herring

James and Lindsay Herring are the heads of a loving family that includes two children … and dreams of a lifetime together.

They also are part of something else pretty special – a Catholics for Habitat build of their new home, which is set to begin in early September.

James works full-time at Arby’s and Lindsay is a stay-at-home mother to their two children, Cody and Sophia. Lindsay had very little knowledge about the Habitat program until she saw a display at Washington Square Mall in Evansville and was intrigued.

The family currently rents an apartment for $600 a month, which is very tight for their budget. They barely have enough to pay rent and their monthly bills. When Lindsay saw the Habitat ad, she thought this would be an affordable option for owning a home and something they could work for together as a family. Financially, James and Lindsay knew Habitat homeownership would benefit them.

In the Diocese of Evansville, Catholics for Habitat combines the efforts of 15 parishes that work together to raise funds and build homes for local families. Catholics for Habitat is sponsoring the Herring family and its new home.

“This is such a unique opportunity for the Catholic community to have a focused approach with Habitat,” said Jo Beth Bootz, the organization’s communications manager. “We are so honored to work each year with Catholics for Habitat. As a Christian ministry, it is such a perfect partnership.”

James and Lindsay are now passionate about the mission of Habitat and the determination it takes to become a homeowner. “Habitat is a lifelong commitment,” James said. “The people there teach you the ins and outs of owning a home and also provide you with the steps to take care of it from the inside out. There’s nothing better than knowing you did something with your own two hands. In this day and age, not many people can say that they actually built their own house. It’s a relief to know we can provide a house for our children. No matter what, they will now have a place to call home. It’s important to my wife and me to know that we can provide this for our children.”

When James and Lindsay describe their children, the extreme amount of pride they have for their family is undeniable. Cody, 5, loves reading and always wants to go to the library. He is also very protective of his little sister, Sophia, who turns 2 in November. It is apparent that this journey is a way for their mom and dad to create the home they have always dreamed of for their children.

“I grew up in a lot of apartments” Lindsay said. “I always felt that an apartment was just a place to live, but a house is a home. I haven’t felt settled living in an apartment, and I wanted something more for my family. I’m happy when I meet other partner families that are working toward the same goal. We share the same goals and values – they are people just like you and me.”

James and Lindsay thrive on responsibility and hard work. For their family, it’s not just about their own personal journey towards owning a home. “It means so much to us when we can help others,” Lindsay said. “A sense of pride and overwhelming goodness overflows in us. It’s very exciting. Every time we think about what Habitat has done for our family and others just like us, we feel so blessed. This is true happiness.”

The Evansville area parishes involved in the Catholics for Habitat build include Christ the King, Corpus Christ, Good Shepherd, Holy Rosary, Resurrection, Sacred Heart, St. Agnes, St. Benedict Cathedral, St. Boniface, St. Mary and St. Theresa, all in Evansville, St. John the Evangelist, Daylight, St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County, St. Philip, Posey County, and St. Wendel in St. Wendel.

The annual Barbeque for Habitat will be held Sept. 21 at the CVS on the corner of Lynch and Oak Hill Road in Evansville.  Volunteers hope to raise $8,000 this year. If you wish to donate or be involved in any of the Habitat ministries, go to the Habitat website at www.evansvillehabitat.org.  Click on Donate or Volunteer, and begin your service today! Keep watching the Message for more details on the Herring-home build.