Volunteers Build a Home for the Holidays

By Debra Bogstie
|  Saturday, Dec 5, 2009  |  Updated 12:00 AM EST
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Volunteers Build a Home for the Holidays

Volunteers built a new home for the Landa family of Griswold.

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A Griswold family now has a new home just in time for the holidays thanks to the generosity of community members and volunteers.

The Landas lost their home to a fire in June.  They arrived to that Bethel Road location on Friday to a cheering crowd and a UHaul van blocking their view.  A driver moved it out of the way so the family could see their new home in a scene similar to the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

"I thank you from the bottom of my heart," said David Landa, who was paralyzed in a swimming accident in 2008.

The 2100-square-foot handicapped accessible home was built entirely by volunteers.  Many of them had previously worked on an "Extreme Makeover" the next town over, in Voluntown, for the Girard family. 

"It's a huge sense of accomplishment not just for me, for our team, but also for the community knowing that we're not going to leave our neighbors in a lurch," said Dino Tudisca, one of the volunteer contractors.

The family plans to celebrate the holidays at their new home with family and friends.

"The house is more than I ever imagined," said Dawne Landa.  "It's overwhelming and I love it."

Posted Friday, Dec 4, 2009 - 11:55 PM EST
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