Grady and Kim Suggs and their children have been selected as the Habitat partner family. If the construction project proceeds as scheduled, the longtime area residents should be in their new home by the end of summer.

Project organizers have already lined up an excavator and other building professionals to get the lot ready for construction in August.

Area residents can support the effort in a variety of ways. In addition to skilled labor, the project will need volunteers to help with non-construction tasks such as volunteer registration, meal service, office work, publicity, and transportation of volunteers and materials.

Starting this week, Gewirtz Hardware, 144. W. Broad St., will offer customers an opportunity to purchase paint and primer for the Habitat home at wholesale prices. Supporters can help the project obtain the 20 gallons of paint and 20 gallons of primer needed by making a $16 donation.

Tim Gewirtz said any extra donations would be used for supplies like paint rollers, brushes and pans.

Last week, fundraiser co-chair Francis Sloan said the local group is about halfway to its $30,000 fundraising goal.

Donations can be made online at http://www.saginawhfh.org, or by calling the Saginaw Habitat for Humanity Office at (989) 753-5200. Donors should specify that their contribution be earmarked for the Chesaning project, home #144.

For more information about helping with the Chesaning home build, call project coordinator Dianne Reeves at (989) 585-3254. To donate materials, lend equipment or offer professional construction assistance, contact Francis Sloan at (989) 845-6280.

Plans for the first Chesaning area Habitat house got underway last year, after several area churches expressed interest in taking on the project through Saginaw Habitat for Humanity.

Since 1987, Saginaw Habitat for Humanity has provided safe, permanent housing for over 500 people, including more than 320 children. The cost of a typical Habitat house - a three-bedroom home between 1,050 and1150 square feet- is approximately $68,000.

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Applicants are selected on their need, ability to make a mortgage payment and willingness to work on their home during the construction process. Houses are sold to partner families at no profit and financed with affordable loans.

Those interested in helping with any fact of the project are encouraged to attend the planning committee's next meeting on Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1629 Brady Rd. (M-57).