Habitat for Humanity in Boone County

Belvidere, Illinois- Stephanie Switzer and her husband Eddy have six kids. Rachel is the oldest. "I`m the babysitter," she laughs. The twins came along just two years ago. "We have a huge family," says Rachel, "and it`s hard just to get by." They have been renting a house and struggling hard, but shortly after filling out an application, they heard the great news. "My husband had answered the phone," says Stephanie, "and they said that we were the family chosen. We were kind of stunned!" Soon an empty lot in Belvidere will be the Switzer`s new home. Thursday, the mayor of Belvidere, several Habitat for Humanity volunteers and the Switzer`s broke ground for the first Habitat Home to be built in Boone County. "This is the epitome of the community coming together to help others," says Mayor Fred Brereton. Habitat for Humanity is a national volunteer organization that helps low-income families to build affordable new homes. The Switzer`s new home will be 1240 square feet. Most importantly to them, their kids will have a big backyard to play in, instead of their front street.