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Opry Night to support Habitat for Humanity

Williams Opry Band members Debi Campbell, Katie Wamble and Patrick O’Brien entertain the crowd at Grand Opry Night in the Rodeo Barn. The semiannual event, put on by Williams Habitat for Humanity, will feature a cakewalk, food, drink and dancing. Submitted photo

Williams Opry Band members Debi Campbell, Katie Wamble and Patrick O’Brien entertain the crowd at Grand Opry Night in the Rodeo Barn. The semiannual event, put on by Williams Habitat for Humanity, will feature a cakewalk, food, drink and dancing. Submitted photo

WILLIAMS, Ariz. - A night of great music, good food and the chance to win exciting prizes will take place on April 10 for Williams Habitat for Humanity's Grand Opry Night.

Opry Night has taken place in Williams since 2003 to help Habitat for Humanity raise money to build affordable homes for low-income families.

The semiannual fundraising event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Williams Rodeo Barn at the corner of Airport and Rodeo roads. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for students and seniors and $15 for a family of four or more.

The Williams Opry Band will provide the live entertainment, playing country western and gospel music.

Hot dogs, popcorn, water and soda will be available at the event. The ever-popular cakewalk will also take place, with between 20 and 25 sweets available to win.

"All the cakes are all homemade," said Habitat for Humanity member Bud Parenteau. "A lot of them are made by people that are living in Habitat Houses now too. That's how they give back. I think that's pretty neat."

A raffle and auction will also take place. Some of the 120 items up for grabs this year include helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon, train tickets for the Grand Canyon Railway, the Verde Canyon Railroad, and the Durango and Silverton Railroad, overnight stays in Laughlin, restaurant gift cards, about $600 in tires, two reserved grandstand seats for an upcoming NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway, green fees at Elephant Rocks Golf Course, a Pink Jeep Tour, and a football autographed by Arizona Cardinal Patrick Peterson.

The money raised at Opry Night will go toward building Habitat for Humanity's third home in Williams. The house will be located on Wells Fargo Drive. Now that the city's water crisis is resolved, the organization has secured permits to start building. Construction should start in the next few weeks and will take about eight to nine months to complete.

"I've been waiting for over a year to get started on this, and it's nice that we've got water that we can do it," Parenteau said.

Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that has built more than 500,000 affordable homes for low-income families since it was founded in 1976.

The Williams chapter started in 1995. The organization completed its first house in 2005 and its second house in 2012.

"(The first recipient) has been in that house almost 10 years, which means she's halfway through her mortgage already," Parenteau said. "Both families are doing great in their houses and it's really been a help for them. They're moving up and on, and that's the idea of it."

All families who receive a Habitat for Humanity house must put in 500 hours of sweat equity. Families must apply to receive a Habitat for Humanity home. A committee selects the families "based on their level of need, their willingness to become partners in the program and their ability to repay the loan," according to the organization's website.

Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers to help with Opry Night and building its third house.

"You may not be driving a nail, but you're helping us to raise funds to get that house built," Parenteau said.

Parenteau encouraged Williams residents to attend the event to support Habitat for Humanity.

"Come and have a fun time and win prizes and dance and cake walk. It's good music, and it's all local music too."

More information is available from Parenteau at (928) 635-4393.


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