Habitat for Humanity dedicates fourth home in Seville

SEVILLE — Habitat for Humanity of Medina County celebrated one of its ReStore employees for becoming the organization's latest homeowner during a home dedication ceremony on Sunday. Executive Director Tom O'Connell said the property on West Greenwich Road is Habitat's 55th home since 1991, and it is the second home dedicated this calendar year. "This is actually our fourth home that we've dedicated and will be selling here in the village of Seville," he said. "The most recent one was just a couple years ago, right next door." Ruth Patton was the construction manager for the home and oversaw the project from the beginning through its completion. She said this project highlights the resilience of the organization and its partner families. "We started this project at the 11th hour last year, heading into winter," she said. "Our first days of framing, we had to watch for ice, and we had a fire going. It was an all-out effort in December to get this under roof." Ashley Roten will soon be the homeowner of the property, and she was accepted into the home ownership program in December 2023. O'Connell said she met every requirement that every other partner family has. "Over these 19 months, she has completed over 250 volunteer hours in the midst of family schedules to keep and work responsibilities and a lot of other things on her plate," he said. ReStore manager Sheryl Boyer said she is proud of Roten and spoke of her resilience of working through hard times like the death of her mother and her aunt. "You've been an inspiration to all of us because you've been through a lot, and you came out the other side," she said. "Nobody's more proud of you and happy for you than your ReStore family." Roten said when she first started working for Habitat, it was just a job to pay the bills, but it became a passion. "I was an employee before I was a partner family, so being able to experience both sides is life-changing in itself," she said. "I get to help change someone else's life like Habitat changed mine. I made great connections with my co-workers, volunteers, customers and other partner families." Roten's ReStore co-worker Collin Husbands also sang "On My Way" by Phil Collins during the home dedication because she is a Disney fan, and the song has sentimental value. "We love you at the store, Ashley," he said. "You've done a lot for Habitat, and you've done a lot for me, so we appreciate it." A Habitat home is not a free gift but is instead a partnership between the organization and its partner families, O'Connell said. "We hope this home is filled with memories, so many memories, over the years to come," he said. "We hope it's a place of stability. We hope that as you are in this home, you realize the strength that was required to make this happen. You can do great things." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.