CANTON — In its second year of existence, Creekview High School’s Habitat for Humanity Club raised $10,000 to help build a Habitat for Humanity house for the Phares family of Hickory Flat.

More than 100 students took part in fundraising through the club’s annual Trick-or-Treat donation drive and letter-writing campaign. The students also collected donations from Creekview High School faculty to help reach their goal.

In addition to fundraising, the students also took part in Habitat builds, leadership camps and an awareness campaign.

Habitat for Humanity North Central Georgia conducted a dedication ceremony for the Phares family and two other families on May 19 at the Villages of Park Creek neighborhood in Woodstock. The ceremony was attended by more than 75 volunteers, family members, Habitat staff and board members.

Russ Hayes, CEO of the nonprofit organization, said the original developer had abandoned the subdivision, only having completed homes on less than one-third of the available home sites, and left a defunct homeowners association and nearly 50 weed-strewn lots.

“Habitat-North Central Georgia is working to revitalize the neighborhood and provide affordable homes to deserving families in north Fulton and Cherokee County,” Hayes said.

Tadesse Phares and Tuwers Phares, originally from Ethiopia, have two children, Abraham, 11, and 5-year-old Bithanya. The family came to the United States to seek a better life for themselves and their children, Tuwers Phares said.

An accomplished lawyer, judge and university professor, Tuwers Phares said he always dreamed of becoming a United States citizen. Both parents now work at the Goodwill Industries.

The Phares home was built with funds provided by Schoen Insulation Services, the Habitat Youth United program, State Farm, and the Rotary Clubs of Canton, Johns Creek-North Fulton, North Fulton and Roswell as well as the Creekview High School donation.

The two other homes dedicated during the ceremony were built in partnership with the Roberts and Herring families.