"Gosh, I wish I had time for a hobby," Marquita Flores smiles. "My life is dedicated to practices and sports games." Marquita is the mother of 4 boys: Victor (15), Hector (13), Fernando (11), and Ricky (9). Victor and Hector run track in the Spring. Victor lifts weights, Nando plays basketball. All four play football and wrestle. And Marquita tries to go to every game, home and away. "They keep me pretty busy."
Marquita has several connections to Habitat. A friend bought a home in Harrison Ridge, a Habitat-developed subdivision, but it was Bryce and Lily Morris, who bought their Habitat home in 2008, who got her back on track after a bankruptcy. "I'm so glad that's over," she says. She has worked hard to keep her credit clean since then.
A big part of her Habitat story includes Uncle John. Uncle John lived with Marquita and the boys for 5 years. He had diabetes, heart problems, and was constantly on oxygen. He helped with expenses, and he loved the boys. "He felt bad he couldn't help much with Sweat Equity because he was so sick," Marquita says, "He was just a big-hearted person." When Uncle John passed away in April, the family was heart-broken. However, the experience of having him in their lives was so rewarding, Marquita says, the boys suggested they "adopt" another older person who needs extra help.
So what does building a home for her family mean to Marquita? "It means a brand new start of being an adult," she says. "There's no landlord to call, so you need to put on your big boy pants. It also means showing my kids that anything is possible, but you have to work for it. And being a good person pays off."
The Flores family has lived in the same old house in Goshen for more than 8 years. The pipes overflow, the basement floods-the plumber was there for 2 hours on a recent afternoon. She's ready to own her house. Soon, Marquita will sift through the memories of nearly a decade, and move her family to a new home and a new beginning.
Marquita laughs as she describes the boys' reactions. "They are excited about their new home, but they didn't think they'd have to help pack!"