Crader Distributing donates $100K for building Habitat home

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Stan Crader of Crader Distributing Co. turned over a check for $100,000 that will make it possible for Tammy Whitney and her children to have a home of their own through Habitat for Humanity.

Whitney is a recent graduate of Southeast Missouri State University and the community coordinator for the Bollinger County Library.

The house, which will be at 707 High St. in Marble Hill, will be the first Habitat for Humanity home in Bollinger County. The project is the fourth satellite project of Cape Area Habitat for Humanity, said Robin Cole, president of the board.

State Rep. Shelley Keeney has been working for the past year with Habitat for Humanity to help get a project house started and spent Tuesday night with the board selecting the partner family. The property was donated by a former Marble Hill couple who intended to retire there but then changed their plans. What was left, Cole said, was to find the money to finance the construction. So he and Keeney approached Stan Crader, who, after consulting with family members, donated $100,000.

"My whole family has been blessed here," Crader said as to why the family gave such a generous contribution.

Whitney must now put in 250 hours of what Habitat calls "sweat equity," first helping with other projects and then on her own home.

"Working for what I get is something I've always done," Whitney said.

Whitney also will pay a $250 down payment on the home, which will be financed through Habitat for Humanity at no interest. She will also pay up front the first year's insurance, Cole said.

Habitat for Humanity is now looking for a manager to oversee the construction and will need at least 20 volunteers to help build the home.