February 4, 2017 marked a special occasion and a surprise event for Habitat of Humanity of Greater Fredericksburg. Held at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, a mortgage burning was celebrated for Habitat House #1 homeowners Raul and Mary Rodriguez of 109 Shaw Street.
Originally built in 1996, by local Habitat volunteers and members of St. Barnabas church, the home note was paid off by the Rodriguez’s after twenty years. Attending the ceremony was Rev. Stephen Kinney, former pastor of St. Barnabas, and one of the original founders of the local Habitat affiliate, established in 1995. Current and past board members, other Habitat homeowners, and Habitat volunteer builders, the Care-A-Vanners, were also in attendance.