From The St. Tammany News Banner 11/02/11
By Debbie Glover

For St. Anselm parishioners Darlene and Shelby Desmond, they have been praying for a long time for a home that can accommodate Shelby’s wheelchair.

Like many others, their uninsured home was damaged beyond repair during Katrina. They stayed in the home, with nowhere else to go. Then, they moved next door to Darlene’s late mother’s trailer where her son was living, far too small for a wheelchair, but at least it was somewhere to go. They built a second bedroom onto the trailer.

A friend in St. Anselm’s choir heard about their situation and suggested Darlene call Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany West. “Habitat welcomed us with open arms and made us feel like family,” said Darlene.
An overjoyed Darlene, along with her family, raised the wall of their new 1200 square foot ADA accessible home yesterday, All Saints Day, a very special day for the couple.

“We thought we were too old to get a house through Habitat. We got help through so many people. Praise to God, to Mary. This is my children’s dream, “To build you a new house so you can start a new life together.” I hope we live a long time to enjoy it together,” said an emotional Darlene Desmond, fighting back tears of joy as she thanked and hugged her many friends and Habitat helpers who helped her and Shelby’s dreams become a reality.

Too old to wield a hammer, Darlene has worked 466 hours, 166 hours more than the required 300 hours of sweat equity, in the Re-store, helping customers. She has become a shining face of Habitat to many visiting the store dropping off goods or shopping for needed equipment.

The couple has been married for 50 years and are members of St. Anselm Church in Madisonville. In addition, they have four children, Deanna, Marty, Pam and Mike. Two grandchildren were also at the wall raising.

Darlene said that Shelby is post polio, but had worked as a welder for 25 years and as a property manager for 21 years. In 2002 he underwent routine knee surgery that landed him in a wheelchair.

As part of the ceremony yesterday morning Deacon Jack Glover of St. Anselm blessed the house under construction and the members of the St. Anselm choir sang three favorites of the Desmonds—“How Great Thou Art,”; “Amazing Grace,”; and “Let us Build a House Where Love can Dwell.”

Habitat’s Building on Faith program is the idea that people of all different faiths, ideologies and backgrounds are welcome to participate in Habitat’s work. People may disagree on religious, political, or philosophical issues, but Habitat is a place to lay difference aside, pick up a hammer and help make a difference in someone’s life.

Since St. Tammany West Habitat for Humanity began their mission 30 years ago, 491 homes have been built, with 243 since Hurricane Katrina.

Habitat would like to remind the public that they can get involved in several ways, including financial donations. From $25 for porch lights up to $5,000 for heating and air conditioning, an average house will cost $80,000.

In-kind donation are also accepted, from blue painters tape, AC filters, extension cords, brooms, old T-shirts for rags, house warming gifts, school supplies and more.

In addition, Habitat members are always available to speak to members of church congregations who may be eligible for a Habitat home.