Cast of 'Little House' helps build home in Ybor

They have painted walls, cleaned floors, sanded wood, driven nails and even cut drywall.

The road company of "Little House on the Prairie: The Musical" has been helping build houses across the country in a first-of-it's kind partnership with Habitat for Humanity International.

"This has been a rewarding experience because the whole cast is involved in something worthwhile," says actress Kate Loprest who plays Nelly, Laura Ingalls nemesis in the play.

"I'm not so mean when I get off stage," she says. "In fact, I've soften her up for this version."

Loprest says she is handy with a hammer and a drill after working on homes in more than 20 cities so far.

"We've been able to see how this changes people's lives," she said while painting the siding on a newly constructed Habitat home in Ybor City this morning.

The 40 cast members, including Melissa Gilbert, who co-starred in the 1970s "Little House" TV series, have worked on houses in every city on the tour.

The effort calls attention to Habitat's work and also promotes the musical.

Gilbert was scheduled to work on the Ybor home today. But she has had back pain and needed to rest in order to be able to perform, according to Kenneth Teaton, one of the show's producers.

"Melissa wanted to be here today but it is better that she not put strain on her back," he said. He said she had back pain that made it difficult to dance in one of the musical numbers.

Gilbert, 45, plays Ma Ingalls in the musical, which is being performed at the David A. Straz Jr. Performing Arts Center through Sunday.

The Habitat for Humanity home the cast worked on is being built for the Annette Martin and her daughters, LaToya, 17, and Angel, age 2.

LaToya helped decorate flower pots and met the cast members this morning.

"My mother is sick and couldn't be here today," she says. "I appreciate all this help. I am excited about moving in to this new house."

Ralph Jackson, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County, says media coverage of the cast working on the house could help bring public awareness to the nonprofit organization's work.

"We need donors and we need volunteers to help work on the houses as well as families that could benefit from the program," he says.

Habitat for Humanity has built more than 300,000 houses worldwide since its founding in 1976, providing well-build, affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people.

In Hillsborough, more than 130 homes have been built since the group began here in 1987.
Habitat is a faith-based organization that builds and sells homes to qualified families.

"It's not free," Jackson says. "The home owners must give 500 hours of their time to working on the project and they have to make monthly mortgage payments," he says.

"We build the homes with 99 percent volunteer labor, we offer zero interest financing and we make no profit, the costs are low for the homeowner," he adds.

To find out more about Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough call (813) 239-2242 or visit online at www.habitathillsborough.com. The group's office is at 3736 E. Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa.