MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Although Adam Leonard, 34, became a paraplegic after a car crash in 2012, it's not stopping him from working to be an active participant in the world around him.

Leonard is contributing 250 hours of "sweat equity" to build a Marshfield Area Habitat for Humanity house, which he will be moving into by Thanksgiving, News-Herald Media reported (http://mnhne.ws/15d2fio).

"I want to work on this. When it's your own house, you just want to get totally all in," Leonard said recently as he worked on the site near the intersection of Maple Avenue and East 14th Street, where the house is framed and roofed. The crew of volunteers and Leonard were completing the framing for the home's attached garage.

"It's a great experience to build a new home and partner with someone like Adam," said Don Zais, longtime Habitat member and foreman for the annual building projects.

"I was planning to retire from this last year, but then Adam applied and was approved (for a Habitat home). He has energy, passion and such a good attitude. He isn't letting (his handicap) stop him. In fact, he's disappointed whenever we don't have something for him to do," Zais said.

Besides setting up a saw for Leonard to cut wood beams for the garage, Zais and the other Habitat volunteers have figured out multiple ways Leonard can accomplish building tasks.

"When we were putting in the (home's) sub-floor, Adam was right there on the floor pounding in the nails. He's a good worker," Zais said.

An accomplished welder, Leonard said he misses opportunities to work with his hands.

"I can't weld anymore. It's a safety issue since I can't feel anything in my legs," he said.

Working to help build the house creates a good feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction, he said.

"I love helping to do this," said Leonard, adding he shares joint custody of his 2-year-old daughter, who also will enjoy living in the home.

"I feel very, very blessed for me and my daughter to be living in a house that will suit my needs and her needs, too, as she grows up," he said.

The Habitat crew designed a handicap-accessible house, which includes a basement with a motorized rail seat along the stairs for Leonard to have access to storage, Zais said.

The motorized chair for the stairs was donated by Felker Brothers Corp., which also has a crew of employees volunteering their time to work on the site, Zais said.

"Marshfield is a terrific community. Without the support of a lot of businesses, we wouldn't be able to do this," he said.

The tremendous amount of people and businesses who have come together to build the house is "amazing," said Leonard, adding, "This is a very humbling experience."

Habitat partners with people who lack adequate housing and have sufficient income to pay a modest mortgage. The partner family also must volunteer in some aspect of the building or preparation of the home prior to occupancy.

This is an AP Member Exchange shared by News-Herald Media