EHT's first Habitat home completed

 By AMY HATALA
 Staff Writer
The Current of Egg Harbor Township

The first Habitat for Humanity house in Egg Harbor Township was completed Saturday (Dec. 8, 2001) with its dedication to the Atlantic City and County Board of Realtors (ACCBOR).

The home’s new owners, Jim and Marylee Kroger, gratefully accepted a ceremonial key and opened the front door of their new three-bedroom house at 4033 Ivins Avenue.

Marylee Kroger thanked her family including her father, Absecon councilman Ed Vincent, the Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County family, and Habitat’s Executive Director Debbie Murray, who emceed the dedication.

The Krogers amassed 620 Sweat Equity hours, or volunteer time, helping with other Habitat houses as well as their own, even when they only needed 500 to move in.

“You’ve earned this house,” said Betsy Searight, the Kroger Family Partner. “Enjoy the fruits of your labor.”

“This is an opportunity that I am going to run with," Kroger said. "It's awesome."

The hour-long dedication took place in the unfinished living room at the Kroger's new home. The family will be moving into the house soon. They have three sons: Jonathan, 11, Tyler, 10, and Zachary, 5.

The Kroger family has been living in a small, two-bedroom condominium in Egg Harbor Township for five years.  

“Part of (the Kroger’s) dream was to be in Egg Harbor Township," said Searight, “and it was kind of an odyssey finding the right place in EHT.”

Murray thanked Egg Harbor Township deputy mayor Frank Sutton, who played a large role in keeping the Kroger family in the township. Sutton in turn thanked Mayor James “Sonny” McCullough and the township committee.

“Without the help of the mayor and committee, we would not have this land," he said.

 Murray thanked Galloway Mayor Chuck Endicott, Deputy Mayor David Evans and Councilmen Robert Malcionado for attending the dedication, and added that the next mainland house will be built in Galloway Township.

"We are anticipating you with open arms," Endicott answered.

Murray also thanked Stockton student members of TNKK, a group of young women hoping to become a sorority, that donated many hours of labor to building the house.

Murray then cut to the chase.                         Top of Page 

“The main reason we are here today is to honor the public donations from ACCBOR’ she said.

“ACCBOR has raised over $65,000 for our affiliate,’ said Habitat past board member Holly Payton.

Payton said ACCBOR members decided in 1995 that realtors should be involved in community events. Since then, ACCBOR has raised money for the charity by selling Habitat pins, helping to find build-able lots, attending council meetings, and holding a silent auction.

‘We are so proud of our affiliation with ACCBOR. Without their help, we would not be standing here today’ she said.

The room held hands as Rev. Jan Peterson from Zion United Methodist Church said a prayer of dedication. Then Habitat past president Ken Groome presented the Krogers with the key.

“We put many hours into acquiring land in EHT” he said, turning to the Krogers. “This is a very happy day for me because they picked a dynamite family. Welcome to your new home.”

Galloway Township Middle School students, under the direction of teacher Eric Rybka, created the invitations for Saturday’s event.

Other donors for the Kroger’s new house include: Absecon Electric Motor Works, Absegami High School Campus for Habitat for Humanity, Jane Ann Armbruster, Bob Bruce, Dan Mascione, Downbeach Drywall, Fox, Rothchild, O’Brien and Frankel, The Gutter Guys, Harbor Electric, Paul Koelling, Sam’s Club, Shore Supply, South Jersey Gas Company, South Shore Junior Women’s Club, Traa Family Restaurants - McDonalds, WAWA, Weinstein Supply, and Whirlpool Corporation.                     Top of Page

Although it is the first Habitat house in the township, the home at 4033 Ivins Avenue is the 14th Habitat house in Atlantic County.

Maldonado said after the dedication that he thinks towns may be hesitant to give land to Habitat because they do not understand the program.

“Many towns have a fear of the unknown," he said. “They don’t know what kind of family will be moving in. But you have to make a certain amount to qualify for a mortgage with Habitat for Humanity.

"What we see today is a family living a moment in the American dream, proving that you get what you put in.  I want to be instrumental in bringing a Habitat house to Galloway Township."           

Maldonado said Habitat is in the process of putting out bids to purchase land in Galloway Township. Marylee Kroger, who is originally from Absecon, works for Sam’s Club on the Black Horse Pike. Jim Kroger is from Northfield and works for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority.

Habitat for Humanity International is a non-profit organization founded in 1976 to help provide affordable, decent housing around the world. All of the organization’s affiliates combined have built more than 100,000 houses, sheltering more than 500,000 people in 2,000 communities worldwide. Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County, Inc. was established in 1993.

( Dec. 2001 article from The Current of Egg Harbor Township,
posted as HFH-AC archive / reference - by permission.)

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