Christal Barry was beside herself with joy and emotion Tuesday evening as she realized that one of her dreams was on the way to coming true.

“You are our chosen hero,” said Ruth Brown of the Habitat for Humanity home selection committee.

Barry was chosen as the recipient of the next Habitat for Humanity home in Effingham County, its Veteran Build. This particular recipient had to be different than most of the applicants who come to Habitat. In order to receive a $10,000 grant from the Firland Foundation for the home, the Effingham Habitat team wrote its grant to specifically benefit a woman who is a veteran. They also wrote the grant so that women volunteers would donate five days of work to the project.

For the complete story, see Friday's edition of the Effingham Herald.