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NEW VIDEO: Postal Worker Celebrates New Central Oklahoma Habitat Home in The Village (Channel 5 & Telemundo Coverage)
Hands of Mercy Quilt Ann and Cruz
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.
THE VILLAGE — A special delivery arrived Thursday afternoon — and this one came with keys.
Cruz M.B., a United States Postal Service employee, celebrated the dedication of his new, energy-efficient and affordable home with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, joined by local clergy, community members and media.
Coverage from KOCO-TV Channel 5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMT0V3niYkM
Coverage from Telemundo Oklahoma on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/2005856487034034
Cruz M.B. recently purchased this new, energy-efficient three-bedroom Habitat home in The Village.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Cruz moved to Oklahoma in 2013 to build a better life. He still has family in Puerto Rico and recently visited his daughter and two grandchildren, who live in Pennsylvania.
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.
He said he was surprised and touched by the outpouring of support from community members who attended his Habitat home dedication.
“It’s a big emotion for me,” Cruz said. “I was overwhelmed to see so many people at my home — my own home.”
Through Habitat’s New Home Construction program, Cruz completed 100 hours of sweat equity, helping build his home and others alongside volunteers and Habitat staff. He also qualified for and is paying an affordable mortgage, and has completed the required homeowner education classes. “I’m a truck driver for the Postal Service,” he said. “It’s a lot of responsibility. It’s a good job. I pay my bills.”
Deacon John Teague of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church offers a blessing during the Habitat home dedication in The Village, including the sprinkling of holy water. Our Lord’s Lutheran Church Pastor Steve Evans blessed the house earlier.
Cruz’s home is one of three built on land donated several years ago by Our Lord’s Lutheran Church in The Village, highlighting the role of community partnerships in making affordable homeownership possible. The project also included infrastructure improvements to address prior flooding concerns, such as a detention pond funded by donations from Johnson & Associates and its employees.
During the ceremony, Habitat board member Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler led a litany, followed by a blessing from Pastor Steve Evans of Our Lord’s Lutheran Church. Deacon John Teague of St. John Nepomuk Catholic Church then offered a second blessing.
Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity Board Member Amanda Kirkpatrick-Lawler leads a litany during Cruz M.B.’s home dedication.
Cruz was also presented with a handmade quilt by Our Lord’s Lutheran Church’s Hands of Mercy Quilters, a ministry that has created quilts for those in need for more than two decades. The quilt was made by Karlene Grosz and presented by Karen Foran.
“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.”
Local media, including Telemundo Oklahoma, KOCO 5 and KFOR 4, covered the dedication, highlighting both Cruz’s journey and Habitat’s continued work to provide safe, affordable housing solutions in Central Oklahoma.
To learn more, visit www.cohfh.org. To donate, text MAKEHOMEHAPPEN to 50155 or call 405-232-4828.
Cruz M.B. smiles on his new porch after speaking with local media
