Working on a Dream; Habitat for Humanity Freeborn/Mower dedicates 42nd home
Published 7:53 am Friday, June 29, 2018
- The Schmidt family bows their heads in prayer during the benediction during the dedication for their Habitat for Humanity Home Thursday night. Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Kellie and Oliver Schmidt, along with their four children, moved into their forever home on Thursday night.
In front of their home, located in the 700 block of 12th Street NE, the family along with representatives of Habitat of Humanity and Riverland Community College dedicated the Schmidt’s new home.
“I always say this and I always end up crying so we’ll get it over with,” Kellie said, laughing. “Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts. This is a huge dream come true for us.”
The home, a 2,200 square-foot split level home with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, was a moment the Schmidts had long awaited for — when the family of six could step into their home.
“I never stopped to realize — we’re homeowners,” Kellie said.

Forrest “Frosty” Miller, left, blesses the Habitat of Humanity home of Kellie and Oliver Schmidt after the home’s dedication Thursday night.
Photos by Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
Their home specifically, was the third one built by Riverland Community College students in the construction electrical and carpentry programs in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Freeborn/Mower. According to Walt Alms, a Riverland carpentry instructor for second-year students, about 18 carpentry students and around 20 construction electrician students from the Albert Lea campus, were responsible for building the project.
Alms’ students built the foundation of the home while the first-year students of fellow Riverland carpentry instructor Adam Hahn, constructed the framework and the major components of the project. Alms shared that having a partnership with Habitat allowed the nonprofit to be able to find more volunteers in assisting with home builds, such as the Schmidt project, and plans to assist in the next home build once Habitat selects a new family to help.
“It’s been a really good, positive thing for the college and for the students involved in it,” Alms said. “It’s been a positive on both sides (for Riverland and Habitat for Humanity). This was a great opportunity for them to be hands on.”
The Schmidts also put a lot of work in on the home themselves. In meeting certain criteria, each family is supposed to spend 300 hours of their own time in the home.
“We did over 850 hours,” Kellie said, laughing outside their new home.
Torrey Zimmerman, interim executive director for Habitat for Humanity Freeborn/Mower, said that the Schmidt home was considered to be the 42nd home that Habitat dedicated.

Kellie Schmidt thanks all those involved in their Habitat for Humanity home.
The project — like many other Habitat for Humanity homes — took a little more than a year to finish, and he was pleased with the nonprofit’s relationship with Riverland to build new houses.
“These students get some solid real world experience, and we’re able to get to even build nicer homes. …it’s a great relationship we have with Riverland,” Zimmerman said, “and we’re grateful for that. This is really gratifying for us, and fits the mission and vision for Habitat for Humanity in affordable housing, and ultimately acts as lights in our neighborhoods and bring hope and pride in home ownership. We feel really strongly that this project is very positive in every way.”
The home has a particularly special meaning for Kellie who thought back to her father.
“My father and I always used to build something together,” she said as she went on to explain how her father had become ill and eventually passed away. “I told him on Oct. 1 and on Oct. 19 I took him off life-support. When I told him, he was so excited. This was our baby. I feel like he would be very proud.”
The excitement carried over to Thursday evening, when it all finally began settling in.
“I’m excited for my kids,” she said. “I could hear how excited they were.”
— Eric Johnson contributed to this story