FOLEY, Ala. — It was a happy group that gathered at the Hotel Magnolia in Foley Wednesday, Oct. 21, Habitat for Humanity, Baldwin county was going to receive a $50,000 check from the Snook Foundation

But nobody was happier than Brenda Lane and Don Warden. They will be living in a new home in Robertsdale, hopefully by Christmas, because of the award. The home will be handicaped-accessible. The home will be in Robertsdale.

“We wouldn’t be able to build the home without that check,” said Lu Schmidt, a project leader and site supervisor for Habitat.

The project is a “WomenBuild” project, which means that women do the majority of the construction work. The Habitat for Humanity Web site says, “If you do not have any construction skills, don’t worry! Many women come to Women Build sites with no construction skills at all and still make a great impact. Training is provided.”

The couple met in an apartment complex in Loxley and now live in separate nursing homes. By owning the home together, they will be able to look after each other.

“He couldn’t do things, so I would,” explained Lane. Warden used to do truck and engine repair before illness confined him to a wheelchair. Lane worked in offices and now has emphysema and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and uses a wheelchair most of the time to get around.

Both have put in the “sweat equity” hours the Habitat program requires new homeowners to put in, working on other projects. Given their disabilities, that meant things like serving meals at job sites and sorting small parts for other builders, said Schmidt.

Lane said she also worked in the Habitat office to earn her hours. Warden used his experience doing repair jobs to take over some of the work behind the scenes. Both will be active in the construction of their home.

Habitat construction has become a cause for Schmidt. A retired school teacher living in Foley, she spent 15 years as a volunteer coordinator while gaining the skills to become a site supervisor.

“The build is going to take about six weeks,” said Schmidt. “They will be in their new home by Christmas.”

According to Arden Schell, president of the board of directors of the Baldwin County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Lane/Warden home represents the 10th anniversary of the WomenBuild project in Baldwin County.

“We are celebrating the dedication of women building Habitat Homes for the past 10 years,” Schell said.

“I’m just looking forward to a home of my own,” Warden said.