Hailey, a single mother of four in Pittston, Pennsylvania, did something remarkable with a screwdriver in hand: she missed only one workday in months of building her own family's home — and she brought her daughter along, who grew so comfortable she became quite handy with power tools Sunday after Sunday.
That dedication was on full display when friends, volunteers, donors, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the dedication of a new Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity home and officially welcome Hailey and her children into their forever home. Tears flowed as the family of five stepped through their new front door.
"This will be your forever home, a place to build memories, celebrate your own traditions, enjoy quiet moments together, and most importantly, have the feeling and stability that really can only be offered by turning the key in your own door," Habitat Executive Director Kelly Mulhern told the family.
Habitat for Humanity operates on a simple idea: this is not a handout, it is a hand up. Families are chosen based on need, ability to pay, and willingness to pitch in. Once selected, they contribute hundreds of hours of "sweat equity," working shoulder-to-shoulder with volunteers to build their own home. Hailey joined the project late, but her mentor Marie Donnelly recalled how she regularly worked Saturdays and ultimately exceeded Habitat's required 200 hours of sweat equity.
Donnelly didn't just praise Hailey. She also recognized Hailey's children for the sacrifices they made while their mother worked on the site, and Hailey's own mother, who cared for the family behind the scenes so Hailey could be at the construction site. "She is an example of hard work, dedication and grace under pressure," Donnelly said.
The ceremony began with Father Brogan Ryan blessing the home — and the front door itself — asking that all who entered and left would be surrounded by God's presence. Then came the moment everyone had worked toward: Donnelly presented Hailey with the keys to her new home, along with new pots and pans and pantry goods for the children.
The celebration also honored the people who made the house possible. Marley Mullery Zbierski received the 2026 Gottfried Csala Award for keeping the project on schedule as former chair of the Family Selection Committee. Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo earned the 2026 Herm Shiplett Award, recalling that the property once held a deteriorating three-unit structure that was demolished before the city partnered with Habitat. "We have a ton more lots, so let's do more things and do more great situations like this," he said earnestly.
Ellen Watkins, retiring after more than 20 years on the Habitat board, took home the Volunteer Award, and Jerome Sulkoski of Perfect Storm Renovations won the Golden Hammer Award after his company donated and installed the kitchen and all the flooring.
For Hailey and her four children, this house means more than walls and a roof. It means stability, safety, and a place to call home — built by a community that chose to show up.