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This article was published 1/8/2019 (421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A group of soldiers are toiling away three days a week in Brandon, working to build a new home for a family in need.

The partnership between CFB Shilo and the Brandon chapter of Habitat for Humanity has been invaluable, community engagement manager Bonnie Mills said.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN CFB Shilo volunteers work at the Habitat for Humanity site on Franklin Street Friday.

The group has been hard at work finishing a new house for young single mom Jenny and her two boys.

"This home gives them space, freedom, stability. It’s their place to live and grow up," Mills said.

Jenny works alongside volunteers to help build the home, Mills added.

One of the most amazing parts of volunteering is that workers get to construct the home side-by-side with future homeowners.

"You get to see how grateful these homeowners are, how hard they are working for this and you really get to hear their stories," Mills said.

Corporal Aaron Legg and aviator Charles Blanchette have been instrumental in fuelling the success of the project.

Legg’s knows first hand the joy one experiences, seeing new owners move into the lovingly constructed dwelling.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Gunner Leon Cenerini dumps dirt for back fill at the Habitat for Humanity site on Franklin Street Friday.

He was present for a key ceremony for a homeowner on June 24.

"That was really cool because the person that we worked with, the homeowner, he had a ton of drive," Legg said.

It was an incredibly special feeling seeing him move in after months of hard work building the house.

"It’s an awesome opportunity, and I’m thrilled about it, it’s something I enjoy," Legg said. "I find myself very lucky to be out here."

The current housing project on Franklin Street is helped along each week by military service members who stop by three times a week and the recently held Women's Build that ran from June 22 to 27.

There were seven military volunteers on the site on June 19 helping to backfill along the side of the house.

"It’s really nice because we have very consistent volunteers, they volunteer with us throughout the year so they gain a lot of experience working on a residential home," Mills said.

The build typically sees around 10 volunteers a day to ensure they have a meaningful experience without being overworked.

Legg started up the partnership with Habitat for Humanity last year. He began the partnership because he needed to get his apprenticeship finished off so he could return to his engineering course in Gagetown, N.B. for his journeyman course.

He now spends three days a week working at the site for around eight hours each day.

"It’s a win-win deal for both," Legg said.

On base they do not have the opportunity to do a lot of brand new construction work, he said, explaining that they mainly deal with maintenance issues instead.

"Maintenance is important, but at the same when the engineers are out doing a theatre opening you need guys that are familiar with new builds," Legg said.

The partnership provides free competent labour to Habitat for Humanity and a good experience for the "guys in green," he added.

It is an invaluable experience for the soldiers, he said, because they get hands-on experience with ground-up builds.

"They’re building for their community, they’re building hope and inspiration for our partnering families that are going to move in," Mills said.

The foundation for the home was poured earlier in the week, and military members filled in the gaps with soil so the floor could be framed.

Legg said he cannot wait to see it completed.

Habitat for Humanity is aiming to have the home built by February or March of 2020.

If people want to come out and volunteer there are still many opportunities available, Mill said. One can contact Mills at bmills@habitat.mb.ca visit habitatbrandon.ca or call 204-717-0602 to volunteer with or donate to the project.

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