2x4s for Hope breaks ground on first home

FORT MADISON – After about two years of planning and working with Fort Madison city officials, 2x4s for Hope dipped its shovels into dirt to begin construction on one of two homes in the city.

Lester Kistner, one of the organizers of the group in Fort Madison, and Stephanie Warner another organizer, were part of the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday evening.

The two are looking for as many volunteers as they can find to put up the tiny home that will be built for an area veteran.

Kistner said they notified the recipient of the home via Zoom Wednesday.

The homes cost about $60,000 apiece and are built in about eight days with volunteer labor, and Kistner said donations have been coming in to build and furnish the homes.

“Companies have been coming through with materials. Lowe's is donating all the appliances; U.S. Gypsum is donating the drywall. Floorcrafters is doing the flooring and Johnson Sod Farm over in Biggsville is donating the sod,” Kistner said.

“The general public has been buying all the small stuff for inside the home. It’s making up the gap and somebody just came by and gave us $1,000.”

Both homes will face 29th Street on the north side of Avenue J. The project originally had both homes facing Avenue J, but plans changed to move the homes to face west.

The exteriors of the homes are typically completed in the first weekend. Then crews move inside to do drywall and other interior work. But Kistner said they have the donations and funds to get the work done on the first one. Then they will start on the second home.

“We believe once we get this first one done, funds for the second one will come in quickly,” he said.

Kistner is a U.S. Army veteran and his sister Warner is also a veteran with active duty service. The two brought the program from Illinois to Iowa. Kistner's cousin started the program in Quincy.

Volunteer workers start on Saturday and by the following Sunday, organizers hand the keys over to the veterans. Kistner said typically there are about 100 volunteers working to build the homes over the eight days.

Work will start on the first home on May 20th and continue through the week. Those interested in volunteering their time can do so by signing up at the 2x4s for Hope-Lee County Facebook page at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/2x4sforhopeleecounty.