Catholic high school students build Habitat home for needy woman

Published: 2004-06-25

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (CNS) -- The school community at Monsignor Donovan High School eagerly awaits the day when Josephine will be able to move into her new home. Josephine is a 60-year-old single woman who probably never thought she would have a home of her own because she simply couldn't afford it. She has either rented a place or stayed with extended family. But Josephine's living arrangements are going to change when she moves into her own new home in Toms River, a two-bedroom, bungalow-style house with all new major appliances. Monsignor Donovan students, faculty and staff are excited about moving day because they helped build Josephine's home. They have been on ladders and operating equipment, hammering, sawing, digging, shoveling and doing whatever else needed to be done. Along with manual labor, the high school students also learned about interest rates and mortgages. When Josephine moves into her house, she will have a 30-year, fixed-interest mortgage of $600 a month.

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