Friends and loved ones of Joe Kaluza gathered at his brand new home Monday for a special event.
More than 500 Christmas lights, put up by Edison Lighting, were switched on. It was one more step toward the house's completion and the Kaluza family's fresh start.
Joe Kaluza was shot and paralyzed last year during an armed robbery at the KFC fast food restaurant he managed.
A community effort to build the family a new accessible home began in late September. Edison Lighting owner Ed Wojciechowski was pleased to be asked to help by decorating the home for the holidays.
"I've been following it along and it was quite an honor to actually be called to be asked to do this," Wojciechowski said.
Donny Murphy, one of the six local businessmen who helped put the new house project together for the Kaluzas, approached Wojciechowski.
"The community has really stepped it up. They've come together and built this family a brand new house from bottom to top," Murphy said.
More than 140 local companies and hundreds of volunteers have gotten involved in the project. Lisa Kaluza and her family are overwhelmed.
"Words cannot describe how special this night is," she said. "Everything everybody in the community has done for me, Joe, and the kids, for the house."
Joe Kaluza described the night as "a big family special occasion."
After 67 days of construction, the house is now about 95 percent complete. The community is invited to be there this Sunday, Dec. 13, when the Kaluza family will receive the keys at 3 p.m.
