By Brett Jager And Emory Williamson

Donning her multi-colored nursing attire, Chandra Blake, a single mother and full-time nursing assistant, begins to smile as she talks about the process of building her new home.
That home, located at 3119 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., was constructed late this summer by the Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville, a non-profit organization that builds homes for needy families.
Local volunteers, including the University of Louisville football team, helped out with the construction, much to the pleasure of Blake’s 15-year-old son Stephon, who would often visit with the players during construction.
“[Stephon] still talks about meeting them to this day,” says Blake, who also contributed to the construction of her new home.
And although doused in 90-plus degree temperatures for practices, several members of the U of L football team volunteered to build Blake’s new home. Players rotated daily three to four hour shifts as they helped with the installation of siding, insulation, windows, roofing and shingles.
“I couldn’t keep up with all of their names, but I knew their faces,” says Blake, reflecting on the hours spent working on the house with the players,  often offering water to them, but they seemed undeterred by the heat. “It was hot too in the dead of summer, but they didn’t complain or anything.”
Senior quarterback Hunter Cantwell said he enjoyed volunteering and avoiding intense summer workouts.
“It was great to give back,” said Cantwell. “Athletes get a lot of privileges, but this time it was our privilege to see a family smile because we helped them out.”
Rob Locke, executive director for Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville, was thrilled to receive the help of several players and cited their strength as an added bonus.
“Their assistance was phenomenal,” said Locke. “It was nice to have young, strong men helping somebody to become a homeowner.”
Locke added that an assignment such as moving a wall would have taken six volunteers, but only required two football players to do the same job.
“They came to work and were very enthusiastic about learning construction skills and working with the family,” Locke said.
Blake, who sometimes works 24-hour shifts, had to apply for the new home and, once approved by the Habitat for Humanity, had to take classes and workshops regarding finances and home care.
“It was kind of hard at first, because at the beginning it was just a bunch of wood and I couldn’t map out what was what,” said Blake of the construction process. “But once it started to go up it became a lot more exciting. It was just so overwhelming and I felt like I was dreaming.”
Travis Norton, senior cornerback and native of Florida, has dealt with plenty of weather-related tragedies and would often volunteer to rebuild homes following hurricanes. Norton said he admired Blake and the effort she put into the house.
“It felt good to be able to see the person we were helping and it made me more energized to help out,” said Norton of seeing Blake help with the building. “I felt like I was really helping a person and not just a name.”
Junior linebacker Josh McDonald said this experience had a great impact on his life.
“Anytime you are able to help someone less fortunate than you it adds something to your life,” said McDonald. “Knowing you have the power to change things feels good, and this experience was very gratifying for me.”
Once construction was completed in late September, Blake was able to move into her new home.
“When I first moved in I don’t think I fell asleep until it was daylight outside,” Blake said as she was preoccupied with decorating  her new home. “I made sure to make the whole day of it.”
But now Blake enjoys the small things about the house.
“It still has that new smell,” says Blake, 32, as she quickly eyes the kitchen countertop assuring herself of its cleanliness; a countertop compiled of decorated scented candles, neatly aligned cereal boxes and leftover cake from her housewarming party just a couple nights ago. “Whenever I have company they always start sniffing because they can still smell the new wood.”
Blake loves that smell as well as the sounds of her hardwood floors as she walks across them at night. She’s proud that she can provide for Stephon, a Ballard High School freshman, and hopes that the stable foundation of the new home will one day allow him to go to college.
“He wants to go to Memphis, but who knows what will happen,” says Blake.”I wonder when it’s all going to go away,” she says with a sigh.
But regardless of these worries, Blake is content with what her new home means.
“I love it here because [Stephon] has more room and more space and we can say that that’s ours,” said Blake as she leaned on her kitchen chair following a full-day of work. “That’s our home.”