An annual fundraising event for the local Habitat for Humanity organization will celebrate accomplishments and help continue their mission. 

St. Joseph Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Melissa Koch said they will be celebrating 63 completed homes for families at the 3rd annual Unlock the Dream event. 

“Every year we hold a big event to celebrate the previous fiscal year and our accomplishments and celebrate the families and the people that have been involved with Habitat,” Koch said. “This year, our Unlock the Dream event is celebrating 20 years in St. Joseph and really we just decided that’s the best theme, unlocking the dream of home ownership. We’re just celebrating 20 years of progress, of change, of impacting people’s lives and this will be an opportunity where we’re going to actually invite our homeowners to the event and give them an opportunity to shake hands again with the folks who have helped make their dream come true.” 

Koch said the event is also a fundraiser and will feature a repurposed furniture auction. 

“Our commodity is a little bit more expensive than some organizations,” Koch said. “But a large chunk of that is paid for with either donations of material or cash to help us offset that cost, which allows us in turn to sell that home for a much more reasonable price to individuals so they can afford it.” 

Leading up to the event, there are sponsorship opportunities including sponsoring a family which allows a partner family to attend the Unlock the Dream event. 

“We have over 40 sponsors already,” Koch said. “I feel really blessed by that because I think that says what the interest is of people in this community to support an organization where we make such permanent life change for individuals and families.” 

Habitat for Humanity’s Unlock the Dream event takes place at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Word of Life Church. 

For more information, call (816) 279-2552 or click here.