A Home for Angelina

A new life and a new beginning for a Batavia mother of two, all thanks to a local organization that understands the importance of home, sweet home.

The organization is Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County.
Habitat began its 8th housing rehab project on Saturday. For Angelina Pellegrino, it is a dream she has waited for over a year to come true.

“I feel truly, truly blessed to have found out about Habitat.”

Reconstruction of the house at 150 State Street in Batavia began with a blessing and ceremonial ground breaking Saturday afternoon. In a few months, the house will become a home for Angelina and her two children: Michelina, 5 and Carmelina, 1.

PHOTO: Angelina Pellegrino and her daughter, Nikalina take the ceremonial shovels to begin reconstruction of their new home. At right, Jessica Maguire-Tomidy, Habitat for Humanity Executive Director, holds one-year-old Carmelina Pellegrino

“A co-worker of mine received a house through Habitat and explained to me about the process and told me to apply. I didn’t think I would qualify. She literally dragged me down to the Habitat office and it has been a year since I was approved. We just couldn’t find a house, but we were finally blessed with this home.”

Volunteers will work two days a week, maybe more, to completely rebuild the structure. Angelina is expected to provide some sweat equity of her own. Even with a lack of construction skills, she’s ready

“I like to paint! But yes, there are a certain amount of hours you put into the project and I’m just excited to get started. I want to knock down walls. I will learn as I go.”

Habitat expects to have the house ready in four to six months. It will then be up to Angelina and her children to make it a home.

For more information about Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County and to follow progress on Angelina's home, CLICK HERE