The Reflector

Media Credit: Eric Evans The MSU Habitat for Humanity house was under construction in August.

The habitat house for the Harvey/Randel family will be finished just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanks to the Starkville Habitat for Humanity and Mississippi State University volunteers, the family has a new home for the holiday season.

MSU's volunteer organization Maroon Edition began the service project in August to incorporate the program's suggested summer reading, "A Painted House" by John Grisham.

April Heiselt, assistant professor of counseling and educational psychology at MSU, said the Harvey/Randel house is the fastest home the program has built.

The program has brought more than 720 volunteers together, and over 2,776 volunteer hours have been logged.

Heiselt said various MSU groups have contributed, including students, staff, faculty, athletic groups, various colleges and departments, retired alumni and even MSU President Mark Keenum.

Freddie Raspberry, executive director of the Starkville Habitat for Humanity, said the family is just waiting for approval from the city.

"The home is completely finished, and we will have a certificate of occupancy from the city stating that it is completely up to code," he said. "We hope that the family will be in by Thanksgiving."

Sabrina Randel, mother of the family moving into to the habitat house, said they are excited about having a new home.

"We're very excited and anxious to move in," Randel said.

Randel and her husband, Rufus Harvey, have three children: Kjuan, Mya and Rufus Harvey.

A dedication for the family will be held Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. at the house, located in the Sunset subdivision off Highway 12.

Raspberry said there will be a short religious ceremony, followed by the dedication of the house to the family and God. Keenum will also present the family a Bible with their name engraved.

Heiselt said the family will open its home to the public for a walk-through at the dedication.

The Starkville Habitat for Humanity will continue to raise funds for the Harvey/Randel family.

Christmas ornaments will be sold at MSU's Holiday Bazaar on Monday and Tuesday in the Sanderson Center to recognize those who volunteered for the project.

More than $10,000 has already been raised for the family.

Randel said she has enjoyed her experience with the Starkville Habitat for Humanity, and the family has already planned to help build a house for their neighbor.

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