Cruz M.B.

Special Delivery Brings Postal Worker Keys to His Own Home

United States Postal Service employee Cruz M.B. celebrates a special delivery with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland on Thursday — the keys to his newly purchased Habitat home in The Village.

U.S. Postal Service employee Cruz M.B. celebrates a special delivery with COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland on April 16, 2026 — the keys to his newly purchased Habitat home in The Village.

A special delivery arrived for U.S. Postal Service employee Cruz M.B. on April 16, 2026 — and this one came with the keys to his own home.

Cruz celebrated the dedication of his new, energy-efficient and affordable Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity (COHFH) home in The Village alongside local clergy, community members and Habitat supporters.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Cruz moved to Oklahoma in 2013. He still has family in Puerto Rico and recently visited his daughter and two grandchildren in Pennsylvania. During his home dedication, Cruz said he was surprised and touched by the number of community members who came to welcome him.

“It’s a big emotion for me,” Cruz said. “I was overwhelmed to see so many people at my home — my own home.”

Through COHFH’s New Home Construction program, Cruz completed 100 hours of sweat-equity volunteer work, helping build his home and the homes of other future homeowners alongside Habitat volunteers and staff. He also completed the required homeowner education and qualified to purchase his home with an affordable mortgage.

“I’m a truck driver for the Postal Service,” Cruz said. “It’s a lot of responsibility. It’s a good job. I pay my bills.”

Cruz’s home is one of three Habitat houses built on land donated by Our Lord’s Lutheran Church in The Village. The partnership created new homeownership opportunities in a community where available land is limited.

The project also included infrastructure improvements addressing previous flooding concerns. Johnson & Associates and its employees donated engineering services and helped fund a detention pond serving the property.

During the dedication, COHFH board member Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler led a litany. Pastor Steve Evans of Our Lord’s Lutheran Church and Deacon John Teague of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church offered blessings for Cruz and his home.

Cruz also received a handmade quilt from the Hands of Mercy Quilters, a ministry of Our Lord’s Lutheran Church that has created quilts for people in need for more than two decades. Karlene Grosz made the quilt, which Karen Foran presented to Cruz during the ceremony.

Above right, Cruz M.B. (left) and Ann Felton Gilliland unfold a handmade quilt with the help of Karen Foran of Our Lord’s Lutheran Church’s Hands of Mercy Quilters. Fellow quilter Karlene Grosz created the quilt.

Cruz M.B., left, and COHFH Chair/CEO Ann Felton Gilliland unfold a handmade quilt with help from Karen Foran of Our Lord’s Lutheran Church’s Hands of Mercy Quilters. Fellow quilter Karlene Grosz made the quilt.

“Being part of Habitat has been so good,” Cruz said. “They made everything easy and straightforward. It’s been a really good experience.

“It just feels like another family. The family I have far away is here with Habitat for Humanity.”