Photo by Mike Brothers
Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity made the holidays happier for two families last week. Above from left: Abbie and Keegan O’Connell were surprised at Eastview Terrace with a congratulatory balloon bouquet from Habitat representatives president Gary Smith, Cheryl Thomas and Dee Ann Daily.

•December 21, 2016•

Christmas came early for two Sullivan families thanks to Moultrie County Habitat for Humanity.

On December 14 members of the Habitat board surprised Abbie O’Connell with a balloon congratulatory arrangement at her Eastside Terrace workplace. She and husband Keegan were selected for the Habitat rehab project which could be ready in February.

From there Habitat’s band of Christmas elves went to the Moultrie County Courthouse. There the group hid in the back room until Paige Schoonover was brought up from the basement for the surprise announcement.

“I knew last Friday and was afraid I couldn’t keep the secret,” circuit clerk Cindy Braden said of the officewide conspiracy to keep the good news from Schoonover until the official announcement. They celebrated the occasion with sparkling apple juice.

To time this unique two house announcement for the holidays took some advanced planning on the part of the local Habitat for Humanity selection board.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.