The community already is volunteering to help build a Habitat for Humanity home for Patti O'Brien of St. Ignace and her grandsons. The family is making miniature house centerpieces out of paper for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser for North Star Habitat for Humanity at the middle school Wednesday, April 29. Pictured are (back row, from left) Ms. O'Brien, Dallas McLennan; (front) Dakota McLennan, and Dalton McLennan. Patti O'Brien is a seamstress. She crafts satin, taffeta, tulle, and lace into wedding dresses, but for now, her work is on hold. Threads in all shades, special needles, and scissors are packed away in one of the many boxes that fill every available inch of the cramped two-bedroom St. Ignace apartment she shares with her three grandsons, Dakota McLennan, 14, and his younger brothers Dallas, 12, and Dalton, 10.

Last month, the family was approved for a Habitat for Humanity home, so by the end of summer, the boxes will be unpacked, the cramped living conditions will disappear, the boys will have their own rooms, and Ms. O'Brien will be sewing again. It will be the first Habitat for Humanity home built in St. Ignace since 1996.

This house quilt, featuring houses and extra details like a garden tractor, is part of a raffle to raise funds for North Star Habitat for Humanity. The winner of the quilt, which was on display at the St. Ignace Home Show and Spring Expo over the weekend, will be announced during a spaghetti dinner fundraiser Wednesday, April 29. Pictured are Habitat for Humanity fundraising committee member Shaunna Gage (left) of Sault Ste. Marie and Patti O'Brien, whose family is receiving a Habitat for Humanity home in St. Ignace. Ms. O'Brien has permanent guardianship of her grandsons, two of whom have special medical needs, and plans to adopt them. The boys, she said, are looking forward to it, and having a permanent home is an important step in the adoption process.

The family situation and strong support system placed them at the top of the list for a home, said Barbara Searight, executive director of North Star Habitat for Humanity in Sault Ste. Marie.

"The family truly was in need," said Ms. Searight. "A grandmother taking care of kids with medical needs was a huge variable for us."

Local residents already are volunteering to help build the Habitat for Humanity home for the family. North Star Habitat for Humanity is looking for property in St. Ignace and has approved a four-bedroom, 1.5 bath home that will meet the family's medical needs.

If all goes as planned, work on the structure could begin as early as June.

To make the home project possible, community volunteers are needed for the construction work and financial contributions are needed to help pay for some of the material.

"It really is a community project," said Ms. Searight.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser for North Star Habitat for Humanity is planned at the St. Ignace Middle School Wednesday, April 29. The event includes a silent auction and quilt raffle.

To put it all together, prison crews across Michigan are building cabinets, doors, and walls, Whirlpool Corporation is donating a stove and refrigerator, and Habitat for Humanity has been working with St. Ignace Area Hope, Mackinac County H.O.M.E., local contractors, and home building stores.

Some community members already have heard about the project and have volunteered to make meals for workers, said Ms. Searight. Habitat also hopes to work with crews from U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Ignace and the icebreaking tug Biscayne Bay. Ms. Searight said she is hoping for student participation from LaSalle High School and assistance from area clubs.

"It truly is an act of a higher power," said Ms. Searight, speaking from experience. "When you least expect it, someone shows up with what you need."

The boys also say they appreciate everyone's offer to help.

"People from Cheboygan, people are coming down from the Soo, people from St. Ignace, everywhere, everyone's helping us," said Dakota. "It's really cool."

Habitat for Humanity requires a certain income level, a housing challenge such as being overcrowded, and a decent credit history. Those who qualify have to make a house payment of less than $500 a month to Habitat. The money is used to build more houses for other families, said Lisa Hellow, family selection chairperson with the Sault Ste. Marie Habitat for Humanity. Families must also give 300 hours of service to Habitat and $500 is required as a down payment to help pay for grant and loan applications.

"We'll be all right," said Ms. O'Brien of her grandsons. "They are fine young men. They are older. They are full of gratitude for everything that has happened.

"They are very grateful and very helpful and complain very little for what they go through."

The three boys are on the school honor roll.

Dakota, who will be a LaSalle High School freshman this fall, loves all sports except hockey, and he is a big Indianapolis Colts fan. He is looking forward to having his own room and some privacy, and he plans to display trophies in wrestling and baseball that are now packed in boxes.

"I get to be by myself," he said. "I can go in there anytime I want to."

Dallas loves music. The sixth grade student plays the guitar, keyboards, and the harmonica. In the school band, he plays saxophone. Previously, he has played the clarinet and trumpet and he's written two songs with a friend.

He's hoping his room will be somewhat soundproof so he can practice without bothering the rest of the family. He would like a giant guitar on his wall.

He appreciates what everyone is doing for his family.

"It's awesome," he said.

Dallas also is looking forward to having more space and privacy.

"I can have friends over," he said. "I can never really have friends over. I usually have to go to their house because it's too cramped in here."

Dalton prefers reading over sports and music. His favorite writer is children's author Dan Gutman, who wrote "The Kid Who Became President." He likes Mr. Gutman's style, he said, because there are always surprises and he finds the stories exciting. He would like some bookcases in his room, pictures of video games on his walls, and twinkling stars on his ceiling.

He's looking forward to unpacking his boxes.

For now, the boxes of clothes and other belongings will remain tucked under tables, chairs, and stacked against walls in the apartment. Once the family's dream home is completed, that will all change. Everything will have a place. One of those boxes containing Ms. O'Brien's sewing items will be unpacked, and she will be able to get her sewing business going, helping to support the family by making wedding gowns, doing alterations, and sewing quilts.

Public Meeting Planned Wednesday

The public is invited to attend the North Star Habitat for Humanity meeting Wednesday, April 22, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the St. Ignace Public Library. The meeting will be about the house that will be built this summer for a St. Ignace family and how the public can assist with the project.

A fundraising dinner is planned for Wednesday, April 29, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the St. Ignace Middle School. There will be a spaghetti dinner, silent auction, and quilt raffle. The dinner is sponsored by Patti O'Brien and the community.

To donate, contact Barbara Searight at (906) 632-6616.