Christmas miracle includes new home
Published: December 26, 2005
Tears streamed down the cheeks of Melissa Weller — tears of happiness, shock and disbelief. Someone just gave her a house for Christmas.
The windows of 2 Storrie St. were covered with wrapping paper on Friday and the inside has no Sheetrock, rugs, counter tops or cabinets.
Weller, 24, will pick out the colors for paint and floor coverings so the house will be truly hers when it’s ready for occupancy in about six weeks.
Weller, who is missing her right hand, is the mother of three young children including twin 7-month-olds. She was chosen out of more than a dozen entries for the Christmas gift, through the efforts of Centro Civico and developers Shawnn Lynch and Peter Usack.
The developers, who operate through J.C. Property Ventures, have purchased several houses from the city and Montgomery County to rehabilitate and sell them, putting homes back on the tax rolls.
“This seemed like a good idea, give away a house,” said Usack. “It’s something we felt good about and get the community behind the effort.”
He contacted Central Civico’s director Ladan Alomar, who agreed to be the go-between, accepting nomination letters. Earlier this week, the nominations were taken down to one.
But Weller was only told that she was a finalist. It wasn’t until she got to the home and Santa gave her the key, that she realized she was THE finalist.
“It’s unbelievable, like winning the lottery,” she said. “Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before.”
Usack said the community has come up with donations for the house and building suppliers chipped in with materials at cost.
He said the crew hopes to do the same thing next year for another recipient.
“We want to stay involved,” Usack said.
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