Navy Sailors help build Habitat for Humanity home in Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity and the U.S. Navy are working together to build a new home in the city of Lakewood.

Ten Sailors, or Seabees, from Cleveland, Akron and Canton will help to build the four bedroom home through Saturday, in connection with "Navy Week."  

The house is being built for the Simmons family and their five children. Habitat for Humanity Project Coordinator Donald Bain is honored to have Navy Sailors on the job, helping a needy family.

"It's always great to see the kids, they see their new bedrooms, because now they have a house," said Bain. "The family enthusiasm is great to see, that's our reward, to see a family move in."

Bain said the Simmons family must also put in at least 500 hours of work on the home, or another Habitat for Humanity job site, as a way to give back to the cause.

The Sailors helping are U.S. Navy Reservists from a naval mobile construction battalion, some have served in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan.

2nd Class Petty Officer Nicole Kelly is part of the team, the Euclid native is pleased she has the opportunity to help near her hometown.

"I like being right in my backyard," said Kelly. "Were always helping out other communities, so it's good to be back home, plus I know my Grandmother is watching."

The lot where the home is being built has been vacant for more than a year, residents living on the street are happy a new family will be moving in, just in time for Christmas.

"It's nice to see them actually doing something with the lot," said resident Drew Lisy. "It will be nice to have the family move in, it's a nice neighborhood around here."

Navy Week Cleveland runs through Sept 4, and is in commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Habitat for Humanity is always in need of great volunteers, information on how you can get involved can be found on its website .

Meanwhile, NewsChannel5 invites residents to volunteer in their communities, and report vacant homes in their neighborhoods through its Building Better Neighborhoods initiative, click here for more information.