MONTICELLO – A joint project of the Habitat for Humanity and thenational and local Lions Clubs will be celebrated Sunday.

Representatives from both groups will meet with the John Hookerfamily and local enthusiasts at the family’s new home on RabbitRoad to celebrate its dedication. The event is scheduled for Sundayafternoon.

“We had a tremendous amount of volunteer support from thecounty, Silver Creek and churches,” said Paul McLain, a Habitatboard member.

The home was built under a Lions Club International programwhich paid 75 percent of the cost for a new home for disabledcitizens if the local Lions Club would pay 12.5 percent. TheMonticello and New Hebron Lions Clubs each contributed 6.25 percentto reach that objective, McLain said, with Habitat for Humanitysupplying the remaining 12.5 percent cost of the home.

“It was a wonderful program and we appreciate the help of theLions Club in getting this home for the Hookers,” McLain said.

John Hooker is disabled. Special accommodations, required byboth the Lions Club and Habitat, had to be made in the typicalHabitat home for him, which slightly increased its cost, McLainsaid.

Typically, Habitat home recipients are required to help with theconstruction. In Hooker’s case, his disability would not allow himto do so.

His wife, Elizabeth, and their children, however, worked extrahours to meet his obligation even though he was not required to doso, McLain said. The home is substantially complete, he said, withfew finishing touches being applied last week.

“We hope to have it complete and ready for the Hooker family tomove in around dedication time,” McLain said.

The home would not have been possible, he said, without thenumerous donations of materials and other supplies, as well asvolunteerism, from area businesses and individuals.

Habitat for Humanity is presently screening applicants for thecounty’s third home, McLain said, but there is no establishedtimetable yet.