Exciting progress is underway on Itasca County Habitat for Humanity's newest home in Grand Rapids, and we are thrilled to share an update with our supporters and volunteers. Every week brings us one step closer to welcoming partner family Desirae, Taryn, and Lyla into a safe, affordable, and highly energy-efficient home that they will soon call their own.

The project has reached several important milestones over the past few months. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers, community partners, and our construction team, the home is now nearly ready for siding installation, and we are preparing to begin building the interior walls. With each volunteer hour and every board installed, the vision of homeownership for this deserving family comes more clearly into focus.

This home represents more than just shelter—it is an investment in long-term affordability and sustainability. Habitat for Humanity is utilizing advanced high-performance building techniques designed to dramatically reduce energy consumption and keep utility costs low for the family.

The home's construction includes a super-insulated building envelope, exceptional air sealing, high-performance windows and doors, and advanced moisture management systems. These features work together to minimize heat loss during Minnesota's cold winters while maintaining a comfortable indoor environment year-round. By reducing the home's energy demands, we are helping ensure that homeownership remains affordable not only today but for many years to come.

This approach reflects Habitat's commitment to creating homes that are durable, healthy, efficient, and economical to operate. Lower energy bills mean families can devote more of their income toward other important household needs while enjoying the comfort and security of their own home.

For Desirae, Taryn, and Lyla, this home represents stability, security, and the opportunity to build a stronger future together. Through Habitat's homeownership program, partner families invest hundreds of hours of sweat equity while working alongside volunteers and learning the responsibilities of homeownership.

As the house continues to take shape, the excitement is building for the day they receive the keys and begin creating lasting memories in a place of their own. The journey to homeownership requires commitment and perseverance, and Desirae and her family have demonstrated both throughout the process.
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This project would not be possible without the incredible support of volunteers who have dedicated countless hours to bringing this home to life. We extend our sincere gratitude to the YouthBuild participants, whose hard work and enthusiasm have been an important part of the construction process. We are also deeply thankful for the volunteers from Hope House, who continue to show up ready to work and make a difference. In addition, many individual volunteers, community members, partners, and supporters have contributed their time, talents, and encouragement throughout the build.

"Every Habitat home is a testament to what a community can accomplish when people come together to support one another," said Jamie Mjolsness, Executive Director of Itasca County Habitat for Humanity. "The dedication we've seen from our volunteers, community partners, and this wonderful family has been truly inspiring. We're excited to see this project moving steadily toward completion and can't wait to welcome Desirae, Taryn, and Lyla home this fall."

With siding installation and interior framing just around the corner, we are entering an exciting phase of construction. While we have accomplished a tremendous amount together, there is still important work to be done before move-in day arrives this fall.

If you have been looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in our community, now is a great time to get involved. Whether you are an experienced builder or have never picked up a hammer before, there is a place for you on the Habitat build site.

Join us as we work together to help bring this project across the finish line and provide a safe, affordable, energy-efficient home for Desirae, Taryn, and Lyla. Your time and support can help turn a house into a home.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities with Itasca County Habitat for Humanity, contact our office or visit our website. Together, we are building strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. Call us at 218-999-9001 to volunteer or email [email protected].

For Brandon and Jen, becoming a partner family with Itasca County Habitat for Humanity represents more than a new house, it marks a new beginning built on safety, stability, and the promise of a brighter future for their family.

Brandon was born in Grand Rapids and grew up in Cohasset alongside his mom and two brothers. Jen’s upbringing took her across northern Minnesota, born in Deer River and raised between Blackduck and Brainerd as she moved between her parents’ homes. Family has always been central to both of them. Brandon leans on the steady support of his parents and his younger brother and sister-in-law, while Jen’s strongest supporters are her grandparents and her mom.

Education and hard work have shaped their path. Brandon is a Greenway High School graduate and currently works to support the family. Jen graduated from Brainerd High School and completed two years of college in the animal science aide program at Century College. Today, she is a stay-at-home mom, dedicating her days to caring for their daughter, Harper.

Life together is filled with time outdoors and with loved ones. As a family, Brandon and Jen enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, ice fishing, four-wheeling, snowmobiling, camping, and hosting backyard barbecues with friends and family. Those traditions echo their own favorite childhood memories—Jen fondly recalls four-wheeling, mudding, camping, trips to Valleyfair, and visits to the Mall of America, while Brandon’s memories are rooted in nature: sucker fishing in the creeks, spear fishing, trapping, and long days spent in the woods.
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Partnering with Habitat for Humanity is deeply meaningful to Brandon and Jen. “It’s about safe, stable living to call home,” they share, “and a new beginning—a fresh, safe, stable future as a family.” With the support of Habitat and the community, their story is one of resilience, connection, and hope—proof that when neighbors come together, dreams of home can become reality.

Charles “Chip” and Candy Brannon, are the partner family for Itasca County Habitat for Humanity’s 53rd home. Their journey to homeownership has been shaped by resilience, faith, and an unwavering commitment to family.
Chip was born in Sacramento, California, and experienced profound loss early in life, including the death of two sisters and the destruction of his childhood home by fire. His family later relocated to Minnesota, where frequent moves and health challenges, including a serious head injury and seizures, led him down many paths, from years in construction to a decade backpacking across the country. In 2013, Chip returned home to care for his mother for nearly nine years. For Chip, this Habitat home represents something he has never had before: a safe, stable place to finally call his own.

Candy’s story is one of determination and heart. She grew up in Eden Prairie and Crosby, Minnesota, working from a young age on farms, at a turkey facility, and in a local pizza shop while attending school. At just 14, she enrolled in vocational school to become a certified nursing assistant, and by 15 she was already a mother. Candy later moved to Wadena to raise her family, and today she and Chip are proud parents of four adult children and delighted grandparents, soon welcoming their fourth grandchild. After moving closer to family in northern Minnesota, Chip and Candy began attending Triumphant Life Church in Bovey, deepening their sense of community and connection.

Together, Chip and Candy have been in recovery for more than eight years and recently quit smoking, milestones they credit to hard work, faith, and perseverance. Their new Habitat home in Marble will mean stability, accessibility, and a welcoming place to gather with loved ones, including their two cherished dogs, Chloe and Whiskey, who will finally have a yard to play in.

“This is a dream come true,” they shared. “It’s a blessing beyond words.”

Chip and Candy are grateful for the opportunity to build a future rooted in safety, love, and community, and they look forward to celebrating alongside family, friends, and their church as they turn the key to their forever home.

​You can help make Chip and Candy’s dream a reality through volunteering or a financial donation. Visit www.itascahabitat.org to learn how you can make an impact.