Photo by Madeline Scarborough Bryce Enoch, 6, left, stands with his mother Natalie Enoch inside their new home at 2310 36th St., Parkersburg. The wreath behind them was donated by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, one of the home sponsors who teamed with Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley to help Enoch become a homeowner. Bryce said he is most excited to have a playroom for all his toys.

PARKERSBURG — A house is not a home without a family, and Thursday evening Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley dedicated its 104th home for Natalie Enoch and her son Bryce Enoch, 6.

“After almost two years I am so excited to begin moving in and creating our home,” said Enoch.

Enoch talked about how becoming a homeowner through Habitat for Humanity changed her life in many ways.

“With Habitat for Humanity, you don’t just build houses, you build friendships within your community,” Enoch said.

“We are each here for different reasons, but no matter what brought us to Habitat in the first place, we all have one thing in common; we want a home for our families to make memories in, and I can now say that not only do I have a home, but a good home built by us and people who care about us,” Enoch said.

The project was a collaboration of Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley and the Enochs’ church, First Lutheran Church of Parkersburg. The home is at 2310 36th St., Parkersburg.

“It’s at a time like this when people who don’t know one another make something extraordinary happen that help you know that you will never be alone in this community,” said Ted Gaston a broker with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, one of the home sponsors.

The First Lutheran Church has been a longtime partner of Habitat for Humanity, being one of three churches in the area that helped establish the local Habitat affiliate in 1990.

Church members were involved in the construction of the Enoch home through financial donations and volunteering to help build.

The Rev. Ian Reid, pastor of First Lutheran Church, gave the house blessing Thursday during a dedication ceremony.

“I am very grateful to have had this opportunity and experience,” said Enoch.

The lot for the three-bedroom house was donated by the children of John and Martha Hamilton. A house once on property burned down years ago.

“It is nostalgic and wonderful to see a young person live here and really start off their life,” said Gary Hamilton, one of the Hamilton children who attended the dedication.

Many local community groups and friends presented the Enochs with house-warming gifts at the event.

Enoch said she could not even begin to express what the experience has meant to her and her son.

Habitat for Humanity of the MOV hopes to start one more house in Parkersburg this year, and will be completing a home in Barlow in August, according to Robin Stewart, director of resource development for Habitat.

With Habitat for Humanity, the homebuyers work with volunteers in the construction of their house. Habitat partners with homebuyers who must provide sweat equity hours, take homeowner education courses and have met all requirements of homeownership.

Enoch has put in over 370 hours of volunteer work for Habitat since applying for her home.

Upon completion, homebuyers pay a manageable mortgage payment, with no interest on the loan.