Habitat hammers home a house

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Local resident Kellie Thaxton and her family were the latest people to benefit from the Habitat for Humanity program here in Warren County when they took possession of their new home on Mt. Leo Heights recently.

The international organization, originally formed by former President Jimmy Carter, provides volunteer labor and works to obtain donations of land and materials that allows low-income families to be able to purchase well-designed, yet affordable, housing in communities around the world.

“The way Habitat works,” said member Kay Ramsey, “is we get donations and we build the houses, but Kellie will pay for the materials that went into this house.

“The labor is donated,” Ramsey added, going on to thank all the various organizations, churches and businesses who volunteered time, labor and donated materials to the project.

Habitat members and local officials were on hand, along with the Thaxton family, for the dedication of the home, and Ramsey took time to thank some others who helped make the project possible.

For his part, Mayor Royce Davenport lauded the efforts of Habitat for Humanity and its contribution to the community.

“It’s one of those organizations that takes some volunteer labor and some donated materials and some good deals on other materials, and produces something that’s a real asset to our community,” Davenport said.

“This is a great program,” he added. “The City of McMinnville has been fortunate in being able to donate some lots that became the property of the city and we didn’t have a purpose or a need for them. We just took them because of lack of tax payments and other things, and we turn around, and the ones that are appropriate, we donate them to Habitat for Humanity with the caveat that they use them within five years, and they’re doing that.”

Ramsey said, thanks to the efforts and generosity of the community, the organization is already at work on another home, making this the first time Habitat has built two homes in one year.

“The support has been wonderful,” she said.