“I could never fix anything before, I always had to call my dad. Seeing how things are built and put in, I think I’ll know better how to fix things now.”

For Bassett, a Mankato native with several relatives in the area, the house building project was a family affair with many family members showing up to help during last summer’s construction.

There is also a core group of volunteers who help out on each local Habitat project.

Don Anderson and Bob Peterson (known as “Bob the Builder” on Habitat projects) lead a group of retired guys who help out every Tuesday and Thursday during Habitat building projects.

For Peterson, the work is a perfect and rewarding fit. “I like woodworking so it ties in with that and it’s fun doing the projects with these guys. There’s a lot of personal satisfaction, and it’s nice to see families get nice homes,” Peterson said.

At a recent house warming, the volunteers, Habitat staff and the Bassetts swapped stories about the home’s construction.

Then it was Bassett’s turn: “I’m beyond words. I’m so excited and thrilled and just so thankful to all the people who volunteered.”