Teanna Zillmer, Habitat for Humanity Lakeside's newest homeowner, delivered these remarks at the dedication of her home on May 28, 2025. 

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you so much for being here. It truly means a lot to look around and see so many familiar faces, along with some new ones here to share in this special moment. I’ll be the first to admit that public speaking isn’t exactly in my comfort zone, but this is one of those rare times I’ve genuinely looked forward to standing up and saying a few words.

I’m lucky to be joined today by my two favorite little humans: my son Byron, who’s 7 and full of big heart and endless energy, and my daughter Mazikeen, who’s 1 and currently living her best life excited to have new cabinets to slam shut. They keep me grounded, make me laugh, and remind me every day why I applied for this home in the first place.

Standing here today is incredibly emotional — not just because of what this house means, but because of what this journey has taught me, and trust me when I say it’s about more than just drywall and paint samples.

When I first applied for this home, I was pregnant with my daughter, raising my son alone and moving back into my parents’ house. There was a lot of love in that home…and also a lot of bumping into each other, stepping over toys, and trying to find quiet corners that just didn’t exist. Let’s just say privacy was a luxury — and babyproofing someone else’s kitchen is as tricky as it sounds.

I was overwhelmed. I didn’t know how I was going to give my kids the life they deserved. But I had hope — and I took a leap of faith, applying to Habitat not knowing exactly what would come of it, but praying something good would.

What I didn’t expect was that along the way, I’d find something even greater than a home. I found my faith.

I wasn’t raised in a religious household. But through Habitat, through the people I met, the kindness I received, and the strength I saw in others, I found something I didn’t know I was missing. I found God. And I truly believe He brought us here, not just to this home, but to this community, to this purpose.

Now, my 7-year-old son finally has a room to call his own — he’s already plotting where to put secret passageways — and my daughter, now one, will be taking her first steps in our very own hallway. I get to baby-proof a space that’s actually mine. I mean, that’s living the dream, right?

To the volunteers, donors, and the entire Habitat team: You didn’t just build a house. You built a foundation for our future. Every nail you hammered, every hour you gave, was a step toward stability, joy, and yes, grace. You helped me give my children a safe place to grow and a mother who’s grown, too.

Photo: Whitney Morales Photography

Habitat for Humanity Lakeside’s 52nd home is complete and ready for its new family. We’re proud of this accomplishment and proud of our new strategic plan, which will ramp up home building to five a year.
 
How, you might wonder, is it possible for Habitat for Humanity Lakeside to build one simple, decent, and affordable new home a year, let alone five?

Two major ingredients: One is our financing model. The other is the overwhelming support we get from businesses, organizations, and individuals.
 
Let’s start with the financing model. Habitat homes aren’t free. The three criteria for prospective home buyers are need, their ability to pay, and their willingness to partner. Approved homebuyers must contribute 250 hours of sweat equity toward building the home and receive financial education. Once the home is built, they receive an interest-free mortgage based on 23 percent of their adjusted gross income.
 
The second ingredient: Overwhelming support of our mission from Sheboygan-area residents, organizations, and businesses. Donated lumber, flooring, appliances, plumbing supplies, paint, drywall, and other house-building necessities. Thousands of labor hours donated by skilled electricians and plumbers as well as people who love to build things.
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Nothing we do is possible without this generosity. Everyone's commitment to our work enables us to give people a hand up, not a handout, as we like to say.
 
Next week, we’ll turn this space over to the family scheduled to be the newest Habitat for Humanity Lakeside partner family. Right now, we thank the kind and compassionate people and companies for their contributions to our newest home.
 
Richard and Kristin Bemis and their family for their generous financial and in-kind sponsorship of the home, given in loving memory of Austen Bemis.
 
Kohler Company, Poly Vinyl, Color Guard Railing Systems, Whirlpool, Levolor, Pella, Sherwin-Willams, Steven Tenpas Drywall, Schneider Electric, Heim Plumbing, Drexel Building Supply, JF Lopez Roofing, Baumann Excavating, Amerhart, IBEW Local 2150, Wisconsin State Sheet Metal Workers Local 18, and IBEW Local 494, for in-kind donations of building equipment and skilled volunteer time.
 
Altrusa International for the home’s bookcase and books.
 
Meijer for the dedication celebration’s refreshments.
 
The individuals, church groups, and corporate teams who volunteered their time and talents to build this home.
 
Thank you. We’re breaking ground on our 53rd home later this year and we can’t wait to see you again.

Habitat for Humanity Lakeside has a new and limited-time-only program designed to help Sheboygan County veterans keep their homes safe and in good repair.

We'll help make a variety of critical repairs, including replacing/repairing steps, decks, railings, ramps, exterior doors, windows, siding/sheathing, trim, fascia, gutter boards, downspouts; paint; weatherization and insulation; replacing or repairing interior doors, ceilings, walls, and floors/flooring; and making accessibility modifications such as installing ramps and grab bars. The repairs are completed by trained Habitat staff and volunteers.
 
You may qualify the program if you can answer yes to the following questions:

1. Are you a veteran with a general or honorable discharge, any year, from any branch of service?
2. Do you own and occupy a single-family home in Sheboygan County?
3. Are your house payments and property taxes up to date?
4. Do you have a homeowners insurance policy in effect?
5. Is your home in need of critical repairs?
6. Does your income fall within these guidelines?

​To learn more about this program, please contact Penny Rayfield, Habitat Lakeside family services manager, at 920.458.3399 ext. 307 or by email: [email protected]. Applications must be filed by August 15, 2025. 
 
Habitat reserves the right to determine which building projects can be done by our staff or volunteers. Habitat will evaluate the house to assess the scope of work and cost of repairs.
 
Habitat for Humanity Lakeside is part of a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 United States and in approximately 70 countries to build homes, communities, and hope. The main goal is to eliminate substandard housing through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their housing conditions.