A unique Thanksgiving tradition continues today in Central Iowa. The Clarke Companies of Des Moines will give away their fourth new home in Des Moines today. Company General Partner, Lloyd Clarke, says after four generations of building homes, his family decided in 1997 it was time to give something back.He says they decided to give away a new home to a family that wouldn’t normally be able to buy a home, and have it ready for them to be moved in by Thanksgiving. Clarke says all the materials, furnishings and labor for the home are donated by the Clarke Companies and their partners.He says it’s gratifying to meet the new homeowners and hand over the keys to the home, as the families often come from a bad situation and are thrilled to get the new home.This year’s home is a three-bedroom dwelling that Clarke says is probably worth over 100-thousand dollars. The most famous “give away” home went to the McCaughey septuplets in the second year of the program.
