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Since 1990 the Huntington Area Habitat For Humanity has been helping families become owners of quality homes in Cabell County, W.Va.

In Miller this past Friday, the Huntington Area HFH raised walls for the first time in Lawrence County for construction on a home for Linda Dennison and her son, Preston Linville II.

“I’m a native of Lawrence County,” David Michael, executive director and CEO of the Huntington Area HFH, said. “With this home I challenge my fellow Lawrence Countians, my friends and neighbors. You now have this same opportunity to partner with Habitat and bring affordable housing to those who need it in this county.”

Gary Prater performed his song “Habitat, It’s You and It’s Me” during the wall-raising ceremony. Afterward, an already emotional Dennison rose from her seat to thank him for the song, as she broke her embrace from Prater she collapsed. Her son caught her before she hit the ground and got her back into her seat. An ambulance was called and she was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center. Her condition was unknown at press time.

“This is one of three homes that received a total grant of $60,000 from us in concert with Citizens Deposit Bank out of Vanceburg,” Judith Rose, assistant vice president of Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, said. “But, now our thoughts and prayers are with Linda and her son; that they can heal and be a part of this happy home.”

Students from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., spent the week helping with construction of the home as part of HFH’s Colligate Challenge Program.