Holmes County Habitat breaks ground for Fry family

A strong foundation is the core of every marriage and every family. It also is the most integral part of building a home, and on Thursday, May 21, both of those foundations came together in celebration of Holmes County Habitat’s newest family dedication.

The 2026 Habitat for Humanity Partner Family groundbreaking took place at 579 Elm St., the newest site of yet another collaboration to build a new home for a worthy Holmes County family.

This year’s family is the Fry family, with the Holmes Habitat board welcoming Chase and Cassandra Fry and their children Cali, Caylee and Chandler.

This newest Holmes County Habitat addition comes alongside two other builds in Millersburg, those being the Whitman and Marks Habitat homes that reside next door, so the Fry family will have plenty of good company and somewhere to turn should they have any questions.

“I thought it was really neat to see both the Whitmans and Marks come to the groundbreaking in support,” said Laura McCartney, Holmes Habitat executive director. “They are going to be wonderful neighbors and a great resource for the Frys.”

McCartney doesn’t usually do the talking at groundbreakings, but circumstances pushed her into delivering both the scripture and the service for the evening.

She said this groundbreaking was a little unconventional in that the ground had already been broken and the footers were poured and in place for the foundation.

“That actually lent itself to a perfect bit of scripture,” McCartney said. “I strongly believe that God does everything in his timing, and what better time to tie together the foundation of our homes and the foundation of our lives than this? We had this wonderful foundation in place, and the Frys have built a beautiful foundation in their family. I’ve seen such a wonderful foundation in Chase and Cassandra’s relationship.”

She said they are terrific examples of how to be graceful, grateful, and to build trust and live in love for their children.

With the footers being put in place prior to the groundbreaking, McCartney said being flexible also is part of life, and not missing a beat, Cassandra Fry said, “That’s OK. We’re just a week ahead of schedule.”

McCartney said it is a joy to see their eagerness moving forward.

The Frys currently reside near Holmesville and applied with Habitat last year. McCartney said the family was an easy choice for the board.

For those who haven’t experienced a Habitat groundbreaking or home dedication, McCartney said it makes an impact that is life-changing for each family. She said it is an immediate impact that can last a lifetime and perhaps several generations in each family.

She also said it is a joy for the board to walk alongside each family and support them through the process and beyond.

“What makes this one so special is that the Frys have a huge support system around them,” McCartney said. “That’s so important as they move through this process and venture into a new phase of their lives.”

She also said it is encouraging to see the community support the organization and its families.

She said as the new home takes shape and nears completion later this summer or early fall, the board invites all community members to come to the dedication to experience the joy that abounds as a new home takes shape.

“We always look forward to the dedications because that is the greatest part of our journey with each family,” McCartney said. “Whether someone in the community is interested in volunteering or would like to apply as a family or knows a family who would be a perfect fit and would make a great Habitat family, we invite them to be part of the celebration, and they can ask questions and see what it’s all about.”

To learn more about Holmes County Habitat for Humanity, visit www.holmescountyhabitat.org.