It’s been quite the uphill battle for Chris and Amanda Sopel, but a global pandemic and a little rain still hasn’t wavered their spirit of gratitude and hope.
The Prince George couple and their kids got to see construction finally begin on a free home they were selected to receive nearly 1.5 years ago by a local society.
While sitting in a suite at the Prince George Cougars’ home opener on Sept. 28, 2018, the Sopels were surprised to hear they were the inaugural winners of the Welcome Home, Pay It Forward Project.
This month last year (June 2019), they saw the designs for the first time, but contractors still had to wait for the city’s help in getting shovels in the ground.
Yesterday (June 22), the Sopels were treated to watch the big excavator lift dirt with members of the Foundations of Hope Community Builders Society smiling with them in seeing work get underway.
“It’s still overwhelming, I really don’t know what to say,” said Chris when asked by PrinceGeorgeMatters.
“There’s been many days where we’re just driving by and waiting for the day to break ground and then with COVID-19 coming, we weren’t sure if it was going to happen. It’s all been a bit of a dream but it’s actually coming true now.”
The Sopels (Chris, Amanda & kids) watch as construction begins on their new home via the Welcome Home, Pay it Forward project 🏠 This comes 1.5 years since the family was selected by the Foundations of Hope Society to receive the free home | #CityOfPG @PGMatters pic.twitter.com/v0N6L95O8g
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) June 22, 2020
Valued at $350,000, the project didn’t come without its financial challenges.
The Foundations of Hope Community Builders Society made a request to Prince George city council in the amount of $20,900 to cover the cost of the building, signing, and plumbing permits, as well as the site’s service and restoration.
Councillors unanimously approved the donation at its public meeting on Sept. 9, 2019.
According to Amanda Sopel, a fundraiser was also scheduled for March this year and despite COVID-19 ultimately cancelling that event, she’s been humbled by the amount of people still willing to help in the midst of a global pandemic.
“Many local businesses, even just community citizens, have pitched in donations just to support the cause and help our family get on their feet; we’ll be very happy once it’s finally built.”
Josh Eiswerth, first director of Foundations of Hope and owner of Ridgeline Roofing, says the Sopels’ patience during times of uncertainty has shown why they picked them for the inaugural project.
Like the construction workers digging up dirt to start laying down the home’s foundation, Eiswerth believes this initiative is beginning the ground work to build future homes for more deserving families.
“This is going to be the hardest one, by far, in setting up the society and all that. It’s too big to be doing it every year, but we’d like to pull another one off,” he tells PrinceGeorgeMatters.
“Overall, I’m very excited and relieved that we’re at this point. I’m blown away by the commitment to the trades and everything despite the circumstances. Everyone’s very committed and very selfless.”
The Sopels are also grateful for the location their free home is being built, calling the central location great for work commutes and schools for their kids in the years to come.
Chris adds the biggest takeaway from the experience so far is the encouragement to give back, noting if a second Welcome Home, Pay it Forward project takes place, the family wouldn’t hesitate to pitch in.
“That was one of things I was asking is if they were doing this again in the future. It;s definitely something we’d like to be involved with and keep paying it forward.”
Foundations of Hope says its timeline to complete the home is end of September 2020, ensuring all materials and other factors run smoothly.
The society consists of 20 organizations ranging from local contractors and construction companies to interior and exterior designs.
