After a long day on campus, tiring hours at work and caring for six children, Marsha Peterson finds time and energy to build her new home, a home that until recently has been only a dream.

Peterson, a single mother with children ranging from ages 5 to 17, is a full-time ISU student. She will be purchasing one of three Habitat for Humanity homes in the Water Tower Place development and is hoping to move into the new home in mid-December.

“For several years, the circumstances of my adult life had taken away my dreams,” said Peterson at the homes’ groundbreaking on Saturday. “Thanks to Story County Habitat for Humanity, along with their generous contributors and the overwhelming support of my family and friends, I have once again learned to dream.”

The groundbreaking for the 14th home built by the local chapter is ceremonial because the foundation is already laid, said Anjeanette Perkins, the chapter’s executive director.

“[This is] the third stage of a unique partnership to build houses on this land,” said Dale VanderSchaaf, president of the board for the Iowa Department of Transportation.

Members of the ISU community can offer support as well.

“[Volunteers] will be doing simple things . Anything from planting to painting, [it’s] all basic home building,” said Brooke Sergeant, Student Alumni Leadership Council homecoming committee representative. Crew captains will direct the volunteers, she said.

Volunteers can also help with any finishing work that remains on Saturdays from Oct. 19 through Dec. 20.

Chances are student volunteers may be nailing boards with to the people who will be buying the home because Habitat for Humanity requires a “sweat equity,” which is the 500 hours of labor required to purchase the home, said Mark Parsons, a sponsor – along with his wife VeLinda – for Peterson’s family.

“We’re there to answer any questions the buyer might have, and to be there to support them,” Parsons said.

The Ames and Story City branches of Wells Fargo Bank are also helping with the home. Wells Fargo has been involved in the past, but they are donating $25,000 to this home through a grant awarded by the housing foundation of the bank, Perkins said.

“[I] had an opportunity to witness the impact of the previous house on the family and workers,” said Kevin Geis, Wells Fargo bank president for Ames and Story City. “It seemed only natural to become more involved [now] than in the past.”

In order to receive the grant, the staff and family members of Wells Fargo have to promise to contribute hours to the event, he said. Geis said the volunteers not only do manual labor, but also bring lunches to the work site, leading the five- to 10-minute devotion period at the beginning of each day and clean up the site at the end of each day.

“[It’s a] wonderful commitment of not just money, but of time,” Perkins said.