By Janet C. Wetzel
Enquirer contributor

Arlette Kollie gladly worked the required hours for her family to have their new Habitat for Humanity home, and she could have walked away without ever lifting another finger to help the organization.

But the 38-year-old Walnut Hills woman didn't see it that way.

Mrs. Kollie didn't just volunteer a few extra hours. Every week since her family moved into their new home in 2000, she's been at Habitat, working to help make a new home possible for someone else.

She gives of her time freely, although she works full time as a parent-community coordinator and instructor's assistant at Cincinnati Public Schools, takes classes at Cincinnati State Technical College, and is a wife and mother of four, ages 4 to 14.

She serves as a Habitat "advocate" and is a motivational speaker, going to churches to talk about the importance of Habitat.

"People left their families and came to help us build a house for our family. That's just awesome," Mrs. Kollie said. "I want to continue helping to show my appreciation for all that was done for us. When we started, I didn't understand the process, and someone was right there to answer my questions and help me. Now that I'm an advocate, I can do that for others."

It's not unusual for people who get Habitat homes to give more than the required 500 "sweat equity" hours per family, but Mrs. Kollie's efforts are clearly remarkable, said John Cerniglia, executive director of Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity.

"She's done this two years in a row after she bought the house, and this is truly exceptional. It's absolutely remarkable, inspirational," Mr. Cerniglia said. "It's neat that she bought and built through the Habitat ministry and is now giving back through the Habitat ministry."

As an advocate, Mrs. Kollie meets with the applicant family and walks them through the process. She then performs a variety of duties, such as taking the family to the required Habitat meetings or to shop for things for the home, and continues to help for a year after they move.

"If they have any problems, instead of them having to call around and find out where to go to get answers or help, they call me and I do the footwork," she said.

Mrs. Kollie said she has always felt the need to help others. Beginning in the early 1980s, she spent several years volunteering for Respite Care, giving caretakers a break from their sick or disabled loved one. She volunteered so much for Cincinnati Public Schools, they finally put her to work, for pay.

"Volunteering is just something people need to do," Mrs. Kollie said. "By the grace of God I do this. He has blessed me with a patient husband who takes care of the children while I do all these things including going to school."

She hopes to earn a degree that qualifies her to work with special needs children.

Mrs. Kollie said she and her family have been blessed, including the Habitat home, which allowed them to move from an inner city apartment.

"Without Habitat, without all the wonderful volunteers who gave of their time, we wouldn't have a brand new house, and a lot of other people wouldn't either. And without volunteers, Habitat couldn't do this," said Mrs. Kollie.

"I get as much as I give from this. Finding the time to be an advocate is the hard part, but the joyful part is just seeing the end result and the smiles that break through the tears of joy when the house is finished," she said. "I believe God calls people for certain jobs. As I look back over my life, I realize that helping others is what God put me here for, so it's not a burden for me to do these things."

Do you know a Hometown Hero - someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax 513-755-4150.